Pertanika began publication in 1978 as the Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science. In 1992, a decision was made to streamline Pertanika into 3 journals to meet the need for specialised journals in areas of study aligned with the interdisciplinary strengths of the university.

Pertanika series also include Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology and Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities.

Pertanika journals are international peer-reviewed journals devoted to the publication of original papers. They serve as a forum for practical approaches to improving quality in issues pertaining to tropical agriculture and its related fields, science and engineering research, and also deals in research or theories in social and behavioural sciences as well as the humanities, particularly within the Asia Pacific region.