Feeding Malaysia: Sabak Bernam’s Growing Role in National Food Security
- Written by: Telegraph Magazine
The Sekinchan smart farming concept has made the district's paddy fields a reference point. By 2030, the SMART Large - Scale Field (SMART SBB) strategy, which was developed in Sekinchan, would be expanded to over 150,000 hectares nationally, assisting Malaysia in fortifying its self-sufficiency and lowering its dependency on rice imports.
The blue economy of Sabak Bernam is expanding rapidly, driven by major upgrades to the district's fisheries value chain—ranging from centralized jetties and cold storage facilities to fish auction halls and downstream processing.These improvements will be spearheaded by the upcoming development of the 415-acre Sekinchan Integrated Landing Port and the 600-acre Zon Industri Perikanan Sungai Lang (ZIPS). Together, these strategic investments are projected to increase the district's marine fisheries landings by more than 42%.
Climate resilience is still at the heart of SABDA's strategy. More than 14,000 farmers, crop growers, fishermen, livestock breeders and aquaculture operations throughout the state have benefited from cash assistance, fertiliser support and fuel subsidies under the RM 131 million Selangor Resilience Enhancement Package, which helps to maintain food production activities despite growing costs and climate change.
SABDA's strategic focus centers heavily on food security. Under the newly announced Rancangan Selangor Kedua (RS-2), several of its eight key projects are directly designed to strengthen the district's role as a major food producer. These initiatives include refining biodiversity conservation to indirectly boost paddy and agricultural yields, upgrading key infrastructure to enhance regional connectivity, improving essential facilities for local fishermen, and increasing aquaculture capacity to ensure Sabak Bernam's output meets national demands.
The core of this endeavour consists of the Sungai Lang Fisheries Industrial Zone, the Sekinchan Integrated Landing Port, and the aquaculture cooperation with Farmerex Sdn Bhd, each of which targets a distinct link in the food supply chain: production, landing and processing, and downstream value-add. When combined, they are intended to increase local output while fostering the resilience required to withstand market and climate shocks.
Sabak Bernam contains about 48,216 hectares of agricultural land, which is important for the production of paddy, fisheries, fruits, vegetables, and aquaculture, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia. In 2020, the district's agricultural industry produced RM918 million in GDP, with its top crops being bananas, coconuts, and red chillies. Along with manufacturing and services, agriculture continues to be a significant pillar of the local economy. However, the latest agricultural data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) for 2024 underscores Sabak Bernam's significant agro-economic potential. The district recorded approximately 27,000 hectares of cultivated land and RM244.23 million in agricultural sales value under the parameters covered by the 2024 Agriculture Census.
SABDA is fostering agritourism as an additional growth sector in addition to production. Sabak Bernam's reputation as a developing ecotourism destination is further enhanced by the award-winning Ban Canal Carnival, which supports local culture, cottage industries, and community entrepreneurship in addition to the district's fundamental agricultural identity.
Together, these projects show how climate resilience, smart agriculture, and targeted investment can cooperate to guarantee Malaysia's food security by bolstering supply chains, preserving livelihoods, and giving Sabak Bernam residents long-term prospects.
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SABDA
The Sabak Bernam Development Area (SABDA) is a strategic economic development initiative of the Selangor State Government under Rancangan Selangor Pertama. SABDA seeks to unlock Sabak Bernam's full economic potential while strengthening Malaysia's food production, raising local incomes and improving community livelihoods. Its vision is to establish Sabak Bernam as a driver of sustainable economic growth, food security, resilience and environmental stewardship.
Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporation) (MBI Selangor)
Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporation) (MBI Selangor) is the strategic investment arm of the State Government of Selangor, mandated to drive sustainable economic growth and long-term value creation for the state.
MBI Selangor plays a central role in catalysing high-impact developments, facilitating strategic partnerships and unlocking the potential of key sectors to strengthen Selangor's position as a leading economic hub in Malaysia and the region. Its investment focus spans infrastructure, industrial development, energy, digital economy and other priority sectors aligned with the state's long-term development agenda.
Guided by the aspirations of Rancangan Selangor Pertama (RS-1), MBI Selangor actively supports initiatives that enhance competitiveness, attract quality investments and create meaningful socio-economic opportunities for the people of Selangor.
Through a disciplined and forward-looking investment approach, MBI Selangor is committed to delivering sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth, while strengthening governance, environmental stewardship and stakeholder value across its portfolio.
For more information, visit: https://www.mbiselangor.com
