RM6.87b allocation for ministry to raise agricultural productivity: Mat Sabu

The allocation of RM6.87 billion to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring the adequacy and security of the country’s food supply as well as to increasing the productivity of the agro-food sector.

Minister Mohamad Sabu said the seven percent increase compared to RM6.42 billion in 2025, will continue to strengthen the country’s food security in line with the goals of the National Agro-Food Policy 2021-2030 (Dan 2.0).

“The ministry will continue to drive the agro-food sector in line with Dan 2.0, which focuses on the modernisation and development of the agro-food sector to increase the country’s food security.

“This also involves the sustainability of agricultural activities and strengthening agricultural infrastructure as well as safeguarding the welfare of target groups,” he said in a statement today.

Mohamad said his ministry is committed to implementing the 2026 budget initiatives efficiently and based on good governance, to ensure that all target groups under the ministry can benefit from the announcement.

Among the main food security initiatives announced in Budget 2026 are an allocation of RM300 million to establish agricultural project collaborations with state governments to benefit from land use, as well as RM55 million to support local fruit entrepreneurs through crop incentives and farm infrastructure.

For the rice farmers, Mohamad said, overall, each rice farmer is estimated to receive an incentive of RM4,300 per hectare per season in 2026 compared to RM3,790 per hectare per season previously.

He said RM2.62 billion has been provided for various subsidies and incentives for farmers, such as paddy price subsidies, paddy crop subsidies, fertiliser subsidies, seed subsidies, and paddy production incentives.

Mohamad said the government also provided catch incentives of RM160 million, fisherfolk’s living allowance of up to RM300 per month, subsidised diesel maintained at RM1.65 per litre specifically for fisherfolk and 380 fisherfolk’s houses will be renovated or newly built with an allocation of RM10 million.

In addition, he said RM20 million has been provided to upgrade vessels to reduce dependence on foreign captains and crews and replace Zone B trawlers and two-boat kenka trawlers to reduce unsustainable vessels.

- Bernama

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