SERDANG, Sept 4 — The Negeri Sembilan government is targeting sales of RM300,000 and 150,000 visitors at the Negeri Sembilan Pavilion during the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agrotourism Show (MAHA) 2026, held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) here.
Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim said the targets are higher than those recorded at MAHA 2024, when the pavilion registered nearly RM284,000 in sales and about 130,000 visitors.
To strengthen the state’s participation, the government constructed a permanent Negeri Sembilan Pavilion at MAEPS at a cost of nearly RM3 million.
“Completed within eight months, the pavilion provides exhibition and sales spaces, as well as interactive facilities, to showcase the state’s agricultural and commercial products, agricultural technology, agro-based industry products, investment opportunities and agrotourism,” he said at the pavilion’s inauguration ceremony on Thursday.
The ceremony was graced by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, and the Tunku Ampuan Besar, Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud.
Ismail said 18 entrepreneurs are participating in this year’s MAHA, compared with seven in 2024. Among the products being showcased are Induk Salai, Durich Satay Tulang, Jemapoh Pizza, jagung retot (retort corn) by Leja Food, Apam Johol and kuih sopang.
He said the agriculture sector remained a significant contributor to the state’s economy, recording RM3.44 billion in value added in 2025, compared with RM3.40 billion in 2024. The sector contributed 6.2 per cent to the state’s gross domestic product.
The state government, he added, aimed to shift the sector from production-oriented activities towards higher-value operations involving processing, value-added products and broader marketing, in line with the Negeri Sembilan Structure Plan 2040.
Under the plan, Rembau, Kuala Pilah, Jempol and Gemas are proposed to be developed as agropolitan centres to strengthen agricultural services, downstream activities and the marketing of local produce.
“In addition to these four districts, the biodiversity and ecotourism potential in Jelebu will also be enhanced in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner,” he said.
Addressing the ageing agricultural workforce identified in the 2024 Negeri Sembilan Agricultural Census, Ismail said the state government welcomed the adoption of technologies such as the Internet of Things and smart irrigation systems to increase farmers’ productivity and income.
He added that Negeri Sembilan had so far received RM13.74 million from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under the national agrifood empowerment programme.
Earlier, Tuanku Muhriz was welcomed by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Ismail on arrival at the venue at 11.15 am.
Also present were Negeri Sembilan State Secretary Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim, Negeri Sembilan State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Awaludin Said and members of the state executive council.
Tuanku Muhriz and Tuanku Aishah Rohani toured the exhibition booths in Hall A before visiting the Negeri Sembilan Pavilion, where they viewed products from the state and interacted with exhibitors and entrepreneurs. They also visited the padi and livestock zones.
The 14th edition of MAHA is being held over 10 days from Aug 28 to Sept 6.
The biennial event serves as a platform for industry players, government agencies, entrepreneurs, research institutions and higher education institutions to showcase innovations, technologies and business opportunities in the agrifood sector.
