PUTRAJAYA: More than two million young people took part in the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (Maha) 2026, raising hopes for the future of Malaysia’s agrifood sector.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the strong youth participation was a positive sign that the younger generation would play an important role in sustaining the sector.
He said youth entrepreneurship programmes and mentorship initiatives involving industry leaders, showcased during the event, should be continued.
He said his ministry would begin preparations for Maha 2028 early, with plans for a bigger and more vibrant exhibition featuring innovative programmes, broader industry participation and a more engaging visitor experience.
“All suggestions for improvement raised during the post-mortem review should be assessed for feasibility, particularly those involving financial costs,” he said at the Maha 2026 appreciation ceremony here on Thursday.Mohamad also said the venue should be better prepared to ensure it could operate at its full potential.
He called for stronger collaboration between ministries, state governments, industry players, stakeholders and international partners to ensure the exhibition delivered tangible benefits and contributed to the development of the agrifood sector.
Describing it as one of the government’s largest and most significant events, he said its successful organisation required extensive planning, implementation and coordination among numerous parties.
“What makes us proud is that Maha is made possible through our collective efforts,” he added.
MAHA 2026 attracted more than five million visitors, generated sales of over RM73mil and saw the signing of 97 memorandums of understanding worth more than RM10.35bil, surpassing its targets.
Mohamad said the exhibition had also reinforced the ministry’s efforts to modernise the agrifood sector and shift it towards higher-value activities.
He added that the increased allocation for his ministry in Budget 2027 reflected the government’s continued confidence in its efforts to strengthen national food security and ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector.
Maha 2026 was held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang in Selangor from Aug 28 to Sept 6.
