Kuala lumpur: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) is intensifying its initiatives to develop a broader spectrum of locally produced crop seed varieties as Malaysia aims to lessen its significant reliance on imported seeds. This strategic move is being spearheaded by Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, who highlighted that nearly 90% of the nation's vegetable seed requirements are currently imported, posing a risk to the agricultural sector due to potential supply chain disruptions, trade restrictions, and escalating input costs.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad emphasized the importance of cultivating the domestic seed industry to safeguard local farmers from counterfeit or substandard seeds, which could adversely impact crop yields and farmers' incomes. He stressed that achieving food sovereignty is unattainable while this dependence persists, noting the surge in the value of crop seed imports from approximately USD5 million in 2021 to an anticipated USD70 million in 2025.
Mohamad's remarks were made during the National Crop Seed Industry Empowerment Programme, part of the 2026 Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agrotourism Show (MAHA) at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS). He revealed that KPKM is nearing the completion of the Plant Seed Quality Bill draft. Concurrently, amendments to the Protection of New Plant Varieties Act 2004 (Act 634) are underway to align with international standards.
The proposed legislation, once enacted by Parliament, aims to enhance the regulation of the country's seed industry. It will mandate all parties involved in the seed supply chain, including producers, processors, distributors, sellers, importers, and exporters, to adhere to established quality standards. Furthermore, the government plans to bolster the National Seed Council's role and extend regional cooperation through the ASEAN Seed Council and associations like the National Seed Association of Malaysia to ensure local industry standards remain competitive globally.
Addressing the press after the event, Mohamad disclosed that MAHA 2026 has attracted 2.2 million visitors so far, generating RM14 million in sales. The exhibition, running from August 28 to September 6, features around 2,000 exhibitors and aims to draw over four million visitors.