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MALAYSIA continues to face a significant food import deficit of nearly RM40 billion annually, underscoring the country’s heavy reliance on imported agricultural products despite growth in the domestic agro-food sector.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, warned that the issue demands serious attention if Malaysia is to safeguard its food security in the long term.
“Last year, the agriculture and agro-food sector grew by 4.52 per cent and contributed almost 12 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said. “However, we are still heavily dependent on food imports, which has led to a substantial trade imbalance.”
According to Arthur Joseph, Malaysia spent RM93 billion on food imports last year, while exports from the sector totalled only RM50 billion — creating a deficit of around RM43 billion.
He made the remarks after officiating the MARDI ShowTech 2025 event at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) on Thursday.
Arthur stressed that Malaysia’s agricultural practices can no longer rely on outdated, conventional methods.
“We must transition to a more modern and efficient approach, including the use of mechanisation, automation, and the selection of crops that are better suited to our climate and soil conditions,” he said.
The deputy minister noted that accelerating the adoption of technology in agriculture will be crucial to improving productivity, narrowing the import-export gap, and ensuring long-term national food resilience. - May 29, 2025
