AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY
July-August. 2025 | @ AGROBiz
AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY
17
Sabah in the spotlight
FEEDING THE NATION: Mohamad Sabu pictured with officials and participants at the Agrofood Development Seminar 2025.
Agro sector gains
• Malaysia ' s agriculture sector recorded a 1.9 per cent year-on-year GDP growth in Q2 2024, driven by higher outputs in livestock, vegetables, and fisheries.
• Sabah recorded the highest number of agricultural households in Malaysia, with nearly 144,000, showing strong agro-community participation.
• The Road to HPPNK 2025 event in Sook underlines Sabah ' s efforts to empower rural agropreneurs and strengthen local food security.
MA LAYSIA ' S agrifood industry recorded a robust performance in the first quarter of 2025, contributing RM45.5 billion to the national Gross Domestic Product( GDP), underscoring its role not only in economic performance but also in national food security.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu stated that the figure accounted for 11 per cent of the national GDP, with food services leading the way at RM22.1 billion. This was followed by the crops, livestock, and fisheries subsector( RM13.9 billion) and the food and beverage industry( RM9.7 billion).
" We all know that the agrofood sector is not just about the economy, it is also about survival, matters related to food security and the nation ' s future," he said during the Agrofood Development Seminar 2025 hosted by the
Agriculture Department.
Despite the sector ' s steady contribution, Mohamad acknowledged Malaysia ' s persistent challenges in rice self-sufficiency.
The current self-sufficiency ratio( SSR) stands at 65 per cent- a concern, especially when compared to our neighbour Indonesia, which outpaces Malaysia despite having a much larger population.
The loss of approximately 20,000 hectares of padi land, due to land conversion for housing and development, has compounded the issue.
" To address this, we are intensifying efforts to revive idle padi lands, including in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak, to make up for the lost production," Mohamad said.
He emphasised the need for higher yields, noting that the national average yields remain at four to five metric tonnes per hectare, which is below the ministry ' s target of seven tonnes.
Only pockets such as Sekinchan and parts of Selangor are achieving that level.
The minister also responded to demographic trends flagged in the 2024 Agricultural Census, which revealed that nearly 50 per cent of Malaysian farmers are aged 60 and above.
While this remains a concern, he noted a growing number of young farmers entering the sector.
Mohamad said: " Older farmers exist in every country, but replacing them quickly is not easy. But there has been an encouraging trend in the number of young people taking up padi farming using modern technology such as drones, as seen in areas like Sabak Bernam in Selangor and parts of Kedah."
The ministry will continue its push to attract youth, especially in major padi-growing states like Johor and Negeri Sembilan, where young agropreneurs are beginning to take root.
SABAH has emerged as the Malaysian State with the highest number of agricultural holdings, based on interim findings from the 2024 Agriculture Census.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, announced that 159,259 agricultural holdings have been recorded in Sabah, reflecting a strong presence of individuals and organisations involved in the sector.
Notably, the State ' s interior zone, which includes Keningau, Sook, Nabawan, Tambunan, and Tenom, accounts for 26 per cent of this total.
" This number is expected to increase further given the vast potential of undeveloped agricultural land in the interior areas," he said during the launch of the second series of the Road to National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day( HPPNK) 2025 held in Sook.
In light of this development, Arthur has announced several targeted efforts to support farming communities. These include establishing the Sook Area Farmers ' Organisation( PPK), building a coffee processing centre in Sapulut, reviving padi fields in Tulid, and introducing high-value crops such as taro, onions, and MD2 pineapples in Sook.
He said both federal and State governments remained focused on strengthening Sabah ' s agricultural foundation through infrastructure upgrades, policy support, and technical initiatives to improve productivity.
The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority( FAMA), he added, played a key role in ensuring food availability and affordability nationwide.
Arthur explained: " FAMA plays a key role in strengthening the agrifood security chain by focusing on accessibility and affordability for consumers, supply availability, as well as usage stability and sustainability."
Last year, Sabah FAMA was allocated RM13.8 million for 313 programmes and projects, benefitting over 29,000 agro-entrepreneurs and contributing RM83 million in sales.
On the HPPNK event, Arthur added: " This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate 50 years of HPPNK. The national-level celebration returns to Sabah after 30 years. The last time Sabah hosted the event was in 1995."- @ AGROBiz