Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) is bringing two community-led initiatives to a national audience at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show (MAHA) 2026 at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (MAEPS) Serdang, Selangor, highlighting how communities in both urban and rural settings are contributing to food security while strengthening livelihoods. 

From 28 August to 6 September 2026, the YSD Edible Garden at Laman Florikultur, MAHA will showcase Kebun Agro Harmoni by Persatuan Penduduk PA Sri Sabah 3A, a Ministry of Finance (MOF) funded initiative under Belanjawan MADANI 2026, alongside the Pahang Orang Asli Regenerative Agroforestry Project by Global Peace Foundation Malaysia (GPFM), which is funded by Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD). 

Both initiatives demonstrate how agriculture can become a platform for communities to strengthen food production, build knowledge and create income-generating opportunities. Through MAHA, the communities will also have the opportunity to share their experiences with the public and connect with government agencies, industry players and potential partners.  

"At YSD, we believe that food security begins at the community level. When people are equipped with the knowledge, skills and support to grow food, care for the environment and create sustainable livelihoods, they become active contributors to stronger and more resilient communities. These initiatives show that agriculture is not only about food production, but also about empowering people, preserving local knowledge, creating economic opportunities, and strengthening community well-being." 

"MAHA is a valuable platform for these communities to celebrate their progress, share their experiences and demonstrate what can be achieved when local ingenuity is supported by the right partnerships. We hope their participation will inspire others to embark on similar journeys and create opportunities for meaningful collaborations that will help these initiatives reach even more communities in the future," said Dr Hjh Yatela Zainal Abidin. 

At PA Sri Sabah 3A in Bandar Tun Razak, Kebun Agro Harmoni brings urban farming into the community through the YSD SEPAKAT programme, supported by the MOF under Belanjawan 2026. The initiative focuses on increasing crop production and community income while developing agro-entrepreneurship, community products and agrotourism opportunities, with residents and youth participating in its activities.  

Meanwhile, since 2022, YSD has committed over RM600,000 to support GPFM’s regenerative agroforestry initiative, benefiting 25 Orang Asli families across six villages in Pekan and Rompin, Pahang. By integrating regenerative farming practices with hands-on training, mentorship, and market access support, the programme helps restore degraded land, enhance food security, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for Orang Asli communities. 

The initiative has facilitated the planting of 30,121 food trees and crops in 1,115 farm plots covering 5.9 hectares, alongside a significant improvement in villagers' confidence in their food security, which increased from 36% to 78%. Produce grown by participating Orang Asli farmers is now sold at selected Jaya Grocer outlets through Local Pasar under the “Regenerative Farming” label, creating a sustainable market channel for community-grown produce. The ongoing efforts continue to strengthen farmer-to-farmer learning, personalised coaching, and the development of higher-value agricultural products. 

The experiences of both communities will also be brought together through YSD’s Coffee Table Talk on Community Involvement in Food Security on 28 August, providing a platform to discuss the role communities can play alongside government, industry and civil society in strengthening Malaysia’s food system.  

“Being part of MAHA 2026 gives our community the opportunity to share our journey with a wider audience while learning from other farmers and communities. Seeing different approaches and ideas help us discover new ways to improve Kebun Agro Harmoni and continue growing its impact for the benefit of our community,” said YM Raja Rahim Raja Muhaiddin, President, Perumahan Awam Seri Sabah 3A Resident Association. 

MAHA 2026 is being held from 28 August to 6 September 2026 at MAEPS Serdang under the theme “Value Creation for Food Security”, bringing together farmers, policymakers, industry players and the public. 

Through its participation, YSD aims to expand public understanding of community-led agriculture while creating opportunities for visitors to connect with project partners, learn directly from community representatives and explore partnerships beyond MAHA.