KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 — Malaysia’s agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector has seen a sharp and sustained decline in youth participation in the workforce since 2019, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM).
KPKM’s Draft National Food Security Blueprint (NFSB) 2030, which was recently uploaded onto the government’s unified public consultation (UPC) portal, reported that employment among the youngest cohort (15-19 years) plummeted by 53.7 per cent from 66,900 workers in 2019 to just 31,000 workers in 2024, while the 20-24 age group declined by 24.8 per cent over the same period.
Crucially, those in the 25-29 age group fell by 26.1 per cent from 228,900 workers in 2019 to 169,100 workers in 2024.
In contrast, employment among older cohorts has shown relative stability. The 40-44 age group recorded a 35 per cent increase from 149,000 workers in 2019 to 201,200 workers last year.
Likewise, the 45-49 age group grew by 8.7 per cent, while the 55-59 age group saw a marginal increase of 2.1 per cent.
Last year, those aged below 40 comprised 756,900 employees, over half out of about 1.48 million workers across agriculture, forestry, and fishing.
In the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) region, the average age of paddy farmers is 60 years old. Additionally, among the 800,000 members of the Farmers’
Organisation Authority, only 15 per cent are under 40, while 45 per cent are aged 60 and above.
“These figures underscore the demographic shift in the sector, with a growing reliance on an ageing labour force to sustain agriculture and fisheries,” said the Draft NFSB 2030.
“Without a sufficient influx of younger successors, this trend poses a significant risk to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the industry.”
According to data in the KPKM report, the total number of employees in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors in the country dropped marginally by 4 per cent from about 1.54 million in 2019 to 1.48 million in 2024.
Malaysia’s agriculture sector remains predominantly male, with women accounting for only 20 per cent of the workforce across agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.
“This highlights concerns about the gender gap in the industry and raises critical questions about women’s opportunities to engage in and benefit from the sector,” said the Draft NFSB 2030.
“Empowering women is crucial for advancing global food security while aligning with the priorities of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A study on female rice farmers revealed that women in agriculture face limited participation in decision-making processes and community groups, posing a significant barrier to advancing women’s empowerment in the industry.”
Men comprised the majority of the workforce across all five key agricultural sub-sectors: livestock, fisheries, fruits, vegetables, and paddy and rice.
Among these, the livestock sector exhibited the widest gender disparity, with 30,718 male farmers compared to 7,482 female farmers in 2022, translating to men outnumbering women in the workforce by four times.
“This significant imbalance highlights the underrepresentation of women in livestock-related occupations and the challenges they face in entering the field,” said the Draft NFSB 2030.
Malaysia’s fisheries sub-sector, while still male-dominated, has a relatively smaller gender gap at about 10 per cent compared to other sub-sectors in agriculture.
Labour productivity in the agriculture sector declined from RM25.8 in value added per hour worked in 2019 to RM25.2 in 2024.
“This downward trend is the result of outdated agricultural practices, which have led to reduced productivity and lower wages, further widening the economic gap between rural and urban areas,” said the Draft NFSB 2030.
Long-Term Sustainability Depends On Attracting, Retaining Younger Generations
KPKM’s report highlighted “significant challenges” in cultivating a skilled, motivated, and innovative workforce in agriculture, citing an ageing farmer population, low attractiveness to youth, and skill gaps in modern and sustainable agricultural practices.
“The agriculture sector’s long-term sustainability depends on attracting and retaining younger generations,” said the Draft NFSB 2030.
“Programmes such as the Young Agropreneur Programme provide targeted support, including grants, technical training, and mentorship opportunities. These initiatives aim to make agriculture a viable and appealing career option for youth, leveraging their innovation, energy, and familiarity with technology to modernise the sector.”
The Draft NFSB 2030 touted agricultural extension services, or tailored advisory programmes, to equip producers with the tools and knowledge to improve productivity, adaptability, and competitiveness.
“Embedding sustainable consumption and production principles into school curricula is essential for nurturing a future-oriented understanding of agrofood systems,” added the report.
