KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Agrobank's financing initiatives will create more opportunities for entrepreneurs to boost local food production and modernise agriculture, in line with Budget 2027’s focus on strengthening the country’s food security.
Agrobank said in a statement today that the RM40 million financing allocation for aquaculture projects, together with more than RM1 billion in funding from Agrobank and several other financial institutions, will create more opportunities to increase production and adopt agricultural technology.
Agrobank Group President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin said the bank’s priority is not merely to provide financing, but also to support entrepreneurs in addressing operational challenges, improving productivity and building stronger businesses.
“In the aquaculture sector, for example, suitable financing can help operators increase production capacity, adopt more efficient technology and strengthen local food supplies,” he said.
He said that as of September 2026, Agrobank had approved RM2.08 billion in financing for 7,236 entrepreneurs across the agriculture, agri-food, livestock, services and fisheries sectors.
“These efforts are also supported by initiatives such as Agro Padi-i Salam, Agrobank’s collaboration with FAMA (Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority) and Halal@Agrobank, which cater to the different needs of entrepreneurs, from access to financing to opportunities to expand their businesses and markets,” he said.
According to the statement, the Agrobank x FAMA Agro-Entrepreneur Scheme organised 15 roadshows at farmers’ markets across the country this year and received business financing applications totalling more than RM13 million.
In the oil palm sector, the government’s RM100 million hybrid financing scheme is expected to help 4,500 smallholders replant their crops, with only 50 per cent of the financing requiring repayment, easing their financial burden and improving plantation productivity.
The initiative builds on cooperation between Agrobank and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) through the Oil Palm Smallholder Replanting Financing Incentive Scheme (TSPKS) 2.0, which aims to streamline financing applications, monitoring and follow-up processes.
Through the Halal@Agrobank initiative launched this year, Agrobank will also help more entrepreneurs obtain halal certification, expand their businesses and reach wider markets.
According to the statement, Agrobank’s housing financing facility for gig workers is expected to help them purchase their first homes, in line with the government’s commitment to making housing financing more accessible and inclusive, especially for people with irregular incomes.
On the bank’s direction for 2027, Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah said Agrobank will continue to focus on financing that supports increased food production, technology adoption, agropreneur development and the expansion of agri-food value chains.
“As a Development Financial Institution, our success is measured not only by the amount of financing disbursed, but also by the impact we create.
“Every ringgit entrusted to us must deliver tangible benefits to entrepreneurs, strengthen the agri-food industry and contribute to the country’s food security,” he said.
-- BERNAMA