Labuan: Labuan should expand greenhouse farming and modern agricultural activities to reduce its heavy dependence on food supplies from mainland Sabah, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. He said about 90 per cent of the duty-free island's food requirements were currently sourced from Sabah, while local production accounted for only 10 per cent.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad emphasized that food security must be made a key priority for the island, as relying heavily on external food supplies poses risks. He recalled instances where essential items like eggs and cooking oil became scarce and had to be airlifted using military aircraft. He made these remarks during a press conference after officiating the Road to MAHA Labuan 2026 programme at the Labuan International Sea Sports Complex.
Mohamad stated that food security must be placed high on the national agenda amid geopolitical tensions and uncertainties in the global economy, which could disrupt supply chains and affect food availability. He suggested that experts from his ministry's agency, like the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), could assist in improving soil conditions in suitable areas of Labuan to enable more land to be cultivated.
He highlighted that greenhouse farming provides an opportunity to overcome constraints involving land and soil conditions. With suitable technology and technical assistance, Labuan can increase local food production and reduce its dependence on supplies from outside the island. Mohamad also encouraged local agro-entrepreneurs to venture into agro-tourism, which could generate additional income while strengthening Labuan's agriculture and tourism sectors.
He recommended the development of medium- and large-scale poultry farming to increase the local supply of chicken and eggs and reduce the risk of shortages. The four-day Road to MAHA Labuan programme, jointly organised by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, the Federal Territories Department (JWP) under the Prime Minister's Department, and Labuan Corporation (LC), began on July 23 and concludes tomorrow.
The programme serves as a prelude to the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition 2026, set to be held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang in Selangor from Aug 28 to Sept 6. The exhibition, themed 'Value Creation for Food Security', will showcase developments and innovations in the country's agriculture and agrofood sectors.
The selection of Labuan as one of the Road to MAHA locations highlights the island's geographical position and the challenges it faces in maintaining a stable and sustainable food supply chain. The programme features several exhibition components, including zones dedicated to food security and innovation, modern livestock, aquaculture and tuna industry, agro-tourism and cultural, small and medium enterprise and youth entrepreneur, and Labuan food empire.
During the event, Mohamad launched the Labuan Federal Territory Food Security Strategic Plan 2026-2030, outlining strategies, initiatives, and action plans to strengthen Labuan's food system and increase its resilience against supply disruptions. Agricultural grants, incentives, and assistance totaling RM1,984,445 were presented to targeted groups in various sectors, including fisheries, farming, agrofood processing, aquaculture, poultry, apiculture, and food-product development.
The assistance included living allowances and housing aid for fishermen, productivity improvement programmes, packaging and labelling grants, fisheries technology incentives, agricultural community development projects, and support for poultry and onion production. A memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation for the development of Labuan's tuna industry and seafood-processing ecosystem was also exchanged during the event. Additionally, letters of appointment for the MAHA 2026 state pavilion coordinators for Sarawak and the Federal Territories Department were presented.