Budget 2027 Opens Up More Opportunities for Agro-Food Entrepreneurs
PETALING JAYA: Budget 2027 will create more opportunities for agro-food entrepreneurs to increase production, modernise operations and strengthen the nation’s food security, according to Agrobank.
Agrobank President and Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin said the various financing initiatives announced by the government would help entrepreneurs expand their business capacity and adopt more efficient agricultural technologies.
He said the RM40 million financing allocation for aquaculture projects, along with more than RM1 billion in financing funds channelled through Agrobank and several other financial institutions, would provide greater opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand their operations.
“For Agrobank, our priority is not merely to provide financing, but to ensure that this support genuinely helps entrepreneurs overcome challenges, improve productivity and build stronger businesses,” he said in a statement.
As of September 2026, Agrobank had approved RM2.08 billion in financing for 7,236 entrepreneurs across the agriculture, agro-food, livestock, services and fisheries sectors.
In the palm oil sector, RM100 million in hybrid financing will be provided to help 4,500 smallholders undertake oil palm replanting, with only half of the financing amount required to be repaid.
The initiative is expected to ease the financial burden on smallholders, improve plantation productivity and support the sustainability of the country’s palm oil industry.
Meanwhile, the increase in microfinancing allocation to RM6.6 billion is expected to help more small-scale entrepreneurs expand their businesses and increase their income.
Agrobank also supports efforts to expand financing access for agricultural entrepreneurs through the Agrobank x FAMA Agropreneur Scheme.
A total of 15 outreach programmes have been conducted at farmers’ markets nationwide this year, generating business financing applications exceeding RM13 million.
To strengthen the halal industry, matching grants of up to RM5,000 will be provided to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) seeking halal certification for the first time.
Meanwhile, grants of up to RM25,000 have been allocated to empower halal MSMEs in high-potential sectors, including cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
Agrobank will also introduce housing financing facilities for gig workers to help those with irregular incomes purchase their first homes.
Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah said Agrobank would continue focusing on financing initiatives that support increased food production, technology adoption, agropreneur development and the strengthening of the agro-food value chain heading into 2027.
“Every ringgit entrusted to us must deliver tangible benefits to entrepreneurs, strengthen the agro-food industry and contribute to the nation’s food security,” he said.
UTUSAN MALAYSIA