Malaysia aims to significantly reduce its dependence on imported onions in the coming years. A government-supported cultivation program aims to reduce imports by 30% by 2030 while simultaneously strengthening farmers' incomes.
The Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security confirmed this last week during a field visit to the state of Kelantan. Currently, the country imports almost 100% of its onion needs. The annual import value exceeds 1 billion ringgit (over €200 million).
Malaysia is currently one of the largest buyers of Dutch onions. In the first week of February, nearly 1.000 tons of Dutch onions were shipped there. This season, the country has already purchased 28.000 tons of onions from Malaysia, 16% more than in the same period last year.
From ambition to implementation
The goal of reducing onion imports by 30% isn't entirely new. In September 2025, the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) already expressed its ambition to reduce dependence on red onion imports through a structured local seed program. At that time, the focus was strongly on research, pilot projects, and building a domestic seed supply chain.
The new reporting clearly shifts the emphasis from research to implementation. The ministry now emphasizes that concrete field projects are underway and that multiple agencies are involved in the scaling up. This gives the plan a more operational character.
Attractive for farmers
According to the ministry, onions have a relatively short cultivation cycle of about two months. This makes the crop attractive to farmers seeking quick returns. With a two-month cycle, the government believes this crop can develop into a "productive and commercially viable" crop.
While the focus in September was primarily on successful pioneers, the focus is now more on the broader income potential for farmers and their contribution to national food security. Cultivation is no longer limited to a single pilot site. Approximately 8 hectares are being sown in Sabah, while projects are also underway in Pahang as a preparatory step for further expansion.
Mardi remains responsible for research and technological support, while implementing agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and farmers' organizations coordinate field rollout. This appears to be the government's intention to prevent a lack of seed or technical expertise from hindering growth—a concern already mentioned in September, but now more explicitly linked to national rollout.
Broader food security policy
Onion cultivation is part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on imported staples. Besides onions, the ministry also lists corn and meat as products for which Malaysia relies heavily on foreign supplies.
By gradually increasing production, the government aims to mitigate the risk of international disruptions and improve the trade balance. While in September the focus was primarily on potential and trial results, the government is now explicitly highlighting "success stories in the field" that should convince other farmers.