KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded increases of between 2% and 12% in fertiliser prices and between 0.5% and 44% in pesticide prices as of end-May this year, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and trade disruptions continued to affect global supply chains, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said the ministry’s monitoring found that fertiliser prices had risen compared with levels recorded between January and March 2026, while pesticide prices also increased across various formulations and brands during the same period.
“The ministry takes note of the increase in fertiliser and pesticide input prices following geopolitical conflicts in West Asia and trade disruptions that have affected global supply chains,” he said in a written parliamentary reply on Monday (June 22).
The reply was in response to a question from Datuk Shamshulkahar Mohd Deli (BN-Jempol), who asked about the impact of rising NPK fertiliser and pesticide prices on national food production costs, as well as the ministry’s short- and long-term measures to prevent sharp increases in food prices.
Mohamad acknowledged that higher prices for NPK fertilisers and pesticides had led to increased production costs in the agri-food sector, although the extent of the impact varied depending on crop types and other production factors.
“However, the ministry continues to monitor the situation to ensure that food supply and prices are not significantly affected,” he said.
To cushion the impact on farmers and consumers, Mohamad said the government had expanded targeted assistance programmes, particularly for small and medium-scale farmers.
For the padi sector, the fertiliser and pesticide incentives for rice farmers have been increased from RM160 per hectare to RM300 per hectare per planting season, he said.
The ministry is also promoting a shift towards organic fertilisers, biofertilisers and Effective Microorganisms (EM) products to reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers, whose prices are more vulnerable to global market fluctuations.
Other measures, he said, include encouraging soil testing before planting to optimise fertiliser use, expanding the use of the GeoTanih system to match crops with suitable soil types, and supporting the development of a domestic compost industry.
Mohamad said a RM5.5mil project under the 13th Malaysia Plan had been approved to strengthen the circular economy through the conversion of agri-food waste into compost and organic fertilisers.
According to him, the ministry is also promoting precision and regenerative agriculture through the use of smart sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, drones and fertigation systems, while strengthening agricultural extension services to improve the efficient use of farm inputs.
In the longer term, Mohamad said the government is drafting a Fertiliser Bill to regulate quality standards, distribution chains and fertiliser supply stability.
