PETALING JAYA: As Malaysia grapples with the ongoing impact of climate change and food security challenges, vegetable farmers are calling for stronger government support to ensure long-term self-sufficiency.
Federation of Vegetable Farmers Associations president Lim Ser Kwee stressed that the government must rethink its approach and implement innovative strategies to boost domestic food production, reduce dependency on imports and safeguard the country’s future food security.
“Recently, Malaysia has faced unprecedented weather events including persistent rain, strong winds and floods that have turned fields into lakes,” Lim said.
“By November, the damage to our farms was clear, with yields dropping by about 40%, causing prices of leafy greens to rise by 30% to 40%.
“Climate change is transforming our agricultural landscape, affecting not only what we grow but also where we can grow it.”
Lim called for the government to break from the status quo, advocating for revolutionary measures to ensure the nation’s food security is anchored on homegrown produce rather than imports.He also stressed the need for resilience, sustainability and autonomy in food systems.
In a recent national committee meeting, Lim said federation members from across the country highlighted both immediate and long-term concerns. He called for increased governmental support, particularly during times of disaster, noting that vegetable farmers often feel overlooked.
“Vegetable farmers are like the ‘forgotten stepchild’ of the government, struggling to compete with an influx of imported vegetables during shortages.
“Farmers need systematic assistance, such as subsidies or tax exemptions,” he said.
Lim also expressed concern about the future of farming, particularly for the younger generation.
“How can we convince them that farming, a vital part of our country’s food security, is a worthwhile and honourable career?
“If we don’t change the narrative now, we risk compromising the well-being of future generations,” he added.
Lim also urged the government to reconsider its plan to mandate Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for foreign workers.“Vegetable farmers in Malaysia employ around 30,000 foreign farmhands, most of whom are here on a short-term basis. If they voluntarily contribute to the EPF, the withdrawal process is so slow that they often don’t receive their funds until after they’ve returned home,” he noted.
Lim said that given the perishable nature of their products, mandatory EPF contributions would place more financial burden on farmers.
“Many workers prefer not to contribute, leading them to demand higher wages or work illegally, forcing farmers to cover the extra costs,” he said.
Additionally, Lim said members had called for the government to halt the submission of the Crop Seed Quality Bill to Parliament next year.
“The Bill’s drafting and submission process lacked transparency and has not involved sufficient consultation with all stakeholders, especially small and medium-sized farmers as well as relevant agricultural and environmental NGOs.
“This Bill could have profound negative impacts on farmers and society. There should be more engagement,” he said.
Lim also highlighted that members want Malaysia to avoid joining the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) because adopting the UPOV system into the Plant Varieties Protection Act 2004 would infringe on farmers’ and Orang Asli’s rights to preserve, share and sell seeds from their own crops.
“The system does not suit the agricultural practices in developing countries and undermines farmers’ rights and other human rights, including the right to food,” he said.
The UPOV is an intergovernmental organisation established to provide and promote an effective system of plant variety protection with the aim of encouraging the development of new varieties of plants.
