Agriculture as Malaysia’s engine of economic growth

The government has recognized agriculture to be new niche in national development because manufacturing has expanded and become competitive. The rapid growth in manufacturing should not sideline agriculture to the detriment of the nation or rural communities.

The shift in priority towards agriculture does not represent a new approach in the country's development. It is actually focusing on an area which was the mainstay of the country's early economic development. Agriculture was the major sector after the country's independence, making up 46% of GDP in 1957.

The government is fully aware that promoting the agricultural sector as the Third Engine of Growth and putting it back in the forefront of the country's economic growth will require a Herculean task. This entails complete transformation of the agriculture sector to resolve many vital long-standing issues that have hindered the sector from becoming competitive and attractive to investors.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry has drawn up exciting new plans and innovative ways to perform this traditional sector into a modern enterprise through the "New Agriculture" approach, which was highlighted in the Ninth Malaysian Plan, which was launched officially in March 31, 2006. Greater emphasis will be given on commercialization of the agro-food related activities, to encourage greater use of modern technologies and techniques to transform traditional farming into commercially viable businesses.

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