Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) and Its Agencies

When an imported cow needs to be quarantined, a sack of padi seed needs to be inspected, or a retail shop wants to sell rice, three different government entities may be involved — and all of them trace back to a single ministry in Putrajaya. Knowing which agency does what saves you from knocking on the wrong door.

At a glance

Full name	Kementerian Pertanian dan Keterjaminan Makanan (KPKM) / Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
Type	Federal ministry
Role	Formulating and implementing policy for the country’s food production, agriculture, livestock, fisheries and food security
Headquarters	Wisma Tani, No. 28, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 4, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62624 Putrajaya
Website	kpkm.gov.my

KPKM positions itself as the “Driver of Agricultural Transformation” — a coordinating body that links technical departments, statutory bodies and a financial institution under a single national food policy umbrella.

What does KPKM do?

The ministry is responsible for formulating, monitoring and implementing policy for food production, agriculture, livestock and fisheries, as well as leading the country’s food security agenda. Among its key policy agendas is raising the country’s rice Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) under the National Agrofood Policy (DAN 2.0), through smart agriculture and more efficient crop management.

It carries out this work not as a single department, but through a group of departments and agencies, each holding a narrow mandate.

Which departments and agencies are under KPKM?

The ministry’s official directory groups the entities under it as follows:

Abbreviation	Full name	Type
DOA	Department of Agriculture Malaysia	Department
DVS	Department of Veterinary Services	Department
DOF	Department of Fisheries Malaysia	Department
MAQIS	Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department	Department
MARDI	Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute	Research institute
LPP	Farmers’ Organisation Authority	Statutory body
FAMA	Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority	Statutory body
LKIM	Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority	Statutory body
MADA	Muda Agricultural Development Authority	Statutory body
KADA	Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority	Statutory body
LPNM	Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board	Statutory body
Agrobank	Agrobank Malaysia	Financial institution

In addition, the ministry oversees the Shah Alam National Botanical Garden, several Integrated Agricultural Development Areas (IADA) across the country as listed in its official directory, and the Padi and Rice Regulatory Office that manages licensing for the rice industry.

A simple way to remember it: the departments (DOA, DVS, DOF, MAQIS) carry out technical and enforcement functions; the authorities (FAMA, LPP, LKIM, MADA, KADA, LPNM) are development and marketing statutory bodies; MARDI does research; and Agrobank provides financing.

Why aren’t FELDA, FELCRA and RISDA on this list?

This is a common confusion. These three land and smallholder agencies are often associated with agriculture, but are not KPKM agencies.

The official directory of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) lists FELCRA Berhad and RISDA (the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority) as agencies under it, alongside MARA, KEMAS, JAKOA and several regional development authorities. FELDA, meanwhile, is not listed on that KKDW page, and there have been public proposals to place it under KKDW so that it sits alongside FELCRA and RISDA — so verify the current arrangement before relying on it in official documents.

What matters for this page: if your matter involves settlers, rubber or oil palm smallholders, or scheme land, your starting point is KKDW, not KPKM.

How is BERNAS tied to the ministry?

BERNAS (Padiberas Nasional Berhad) is often mistaken for a government agency. It is in fact a private company that carries out public functions under an agreement with the government.

Its history explains the relationship. The National Padi Board (LPN) was established on 20 October 1971 and became the sole rice importer following the world food crisis. Padiberas Nasional was incorporated on 7 July 1994, and BERNAS was privatised on 12 January 1996 — taking over LPN’s commercial and social duties while the government retained control over policy and law enforcement.

This is where KPKM comes in. The padi and rice industry is regulated under the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994 (Act 522), with the Director-General of the Padi and Rice Regulatory issuing licences for milling, wholesaling, retailing, importing, exporting and inter-state movement. The Padi and Rice Regulatory Section (KPB) within the ministry also oversees compliance with the Social Obligations under BERNAS’s concession agreement.

That sole importer status is not permanent. According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Chan Foong Hin, while winding up the debate on the Control of Padi and Rice (Amendment) Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat on 13 July 2026, the policy remains in line with the concession agreement that will expire in 2031, and the government will review the concession before it lapses.

What’s next

For specific matters, go straight to the correct department: doa.gov.my for crops and phytosanitary, dvs.gov.my for livestock and animal health, dof.gov.my for fisheries, and maqis.gov.my for import quarantine. For rice licensing, refer to the Padi and Rice Regulatory e-Licence portal. And if your question is actually about settlers or rubber smallholders, shift your focus to KKDW at rurallink.gov.my.