MORE than three-quarters of Selangor’s farmers are aged 46 years old and above, according to the Interim Report of the 2024 Agriculture Census.
The findings showed that 77.3% of farmers were in this age group, with 44.5% aged 60 and above.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the figures showed the need for long-term planning to ensure sustainability of the state's agriculture sector.
“When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, I realised the seriousness of food security after reading a report that some of our neighbouring countries were considering halting rice exports to Malaysia.
“That was when I clearly saw how fragile our food supply situation could become,” he said when launching the report in Klang.
He said accurate and timely data would allow policies to be adjusted more quickly instead of waiting another decade between census exercises.
The last census was conducted in 2005.
The report recorded 37,117 agricultural holdings in Selangor, of which 95.6% were operated by individuals and 4.4% by organisations.
Chief Statistician of Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said Sabak Bernam led with 9,296 holdings, including the state’s largest padi cultivation area at more than 24,000ha.
