Illustrative image (Photo: The Star)Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia’s Ministry ofAgriculture and Food Security (KPKM) is confident that white riceproduction in the country will recover within a month through the Special LocalWhite Rice Programme.
Speaking at a press conference after surveying the supply oflocal white rice at Giant supermarket in Tampoi (Johor state) on September 5, KPKM Minister MohamadSabu said several intervention steps have been taken through the programme,including directing rice millers to increase production by 20% as a short-termmeasure.
A number of engagement sessions with padi industry stakeholderswill be held on September 7 to discuss methods and mechanisms for the recoveryof rice production, he went on, adding that KPKM will clarify the methods andmechanisms with regard to the supply of local rice in thecountry, covering medium- to long-term solutions through these engagementsessions.
Mohamad said the ministry’s earlier initiatives, suchas the Mini Sekinchan Smart Big Scale Padi Field project, are expected tohelp in the recovery of local rice production as the project can produce amassive harvest of 11 tonnes of padi per hectare.
Statistics from KPKM showed that the supply of local whiterice is sufficient and has been maintained at the controlled price of2.60 RM (about 56 US cents) per kilogramme since 2008, reflecting theministry’s efforts to restore rice production are in line with increaseddemand, following the hike in the price of imported rice.
Due to the impact ofIndia's decision to ban rice exports last July, the price of imported rice inthe Malaysian market has increased from 2,350 RM per tonne to 3,200 RM per tonne,equivalent to an increase by 36% since September 1.
As rice producedin Malaysia only meets 70% of its demand, the country imports around 800,000 tonnes ofrice annually from such countries as India, Vietnam, and Thailand and Pakistan./.
