SHAH ALAM – Malaysia’s heavy reliance on imports has left its food system vulnerable to global supply disruptions, prompting experts to call for urgent measures to safeguard food security.
Rising energy prices and shipping delays are already putting pressure on agricultural inputs, raising concerns over both supply stability and affordability.
Agricultural economist Professor Datuk Dr Mad Nasir Shamsudin said geopolitical tensions typically push up oil prices, which in turn increase transportation, fertiliser and overall production costs.
“These cost increases eventually spread across the entire food supply chain, affecting both imported and locally produced food,” he said.
Mad Nasir noted that Malaysia remains heavily dependent on imported inputs, particularly grain corn and soybean meal used in animal feed.
He added that even sectors that appear self-sufficient, such as poultry, are vulnerable due to this reliance.
“As a result, consumers may face higher retail food prices even if the physical availability of food remains stable,” he said, stressing that the situation highlights a growing gap between food supply and food affordability, especially for lower-income groups.
He said higher energy prices would also push up fertiliser costs, which are essential for crop production.
“This increases production expenses for farmers and eventually translates into higher domestic food prices,” he said.
Mad Nasir added that with shipments delayed and input prices rising, farmers may delay planting or reduce cultivated areas due to uncertainty over availability.
“Reduced fertiliser use will lower crop productivity, leading to reduced output and tighter food supply in the near term,” he said.
Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association deputy president Lau Weng Soow said several imported inputs were particularly sensitive to current disruptions.
“Animal feed, wheat and certain edible oils are among the most affected due to Malaysia’s high dependence on imports and rising freight costs.
“Any delay or increase in freight costs will directly raise livestock production costs, affecting prices of chicken and eggs, while tighter wheat supply will push up flour-based products,” he said.
Lau noted that fertilisers and other agricultural inputs, while not food items themselves, quickly translate into higher food prices through a cost-push effect.
He said short-cycle vegetables such as choy sum, lettuce and spinach would be impacted first due to their rapid growth cycles, while fruit vegetables like tomatoes, chillies, and cucumbers could see reduced yields and quality if fertiliser use is cut.
He warned that prolonged disruptions could eventually affect rice production if they persist beyond one or two planting cycles. Farmers are already adjusting by delaying planting, reducing input use and shifting to lower-cost crops to manage rising expenses.
“Lower input usage will result in reduced yields and inconsistent quality, while rising costs without matching price increases will squeeze farmers’ margins,” he said. “These changes could lead to unstable supply and increased price volatility in the coming weeks.”
Mad Nasir said policy responses should focus on both immediate relief and long-term resilience.
“Targeted fertiliser and diesel subsidies, along with input support and efficient distribution, could help farmers sustain production in the short term,” he said.
He added that Malaysia must strengthen its food system over the long term by diversifying import sources, maintaining strategic reserves and investing in domestic agricultural productivity.
“Technological innovations such as precision farming and climate-resilient crops will be key to improving long-term food security,” he said.
At the regional level, he noted that Asean cooperation, including food security frameworks and emergency rice reserves, could help countries respond more effectively to supply disruptions.
Lau said while there is no immediate food shortage, the upstream production system is already under pressure.
“If not addressed promptly, price increases and supply instability may become more evident in the coming weeks to months,” he said.