Rice self-sufficiency rate at 62.6% in 2022, Dewan Rakyat told

KUALA LUMPUR: As of last year, the self-sufficiency rate (SSR) for rice was at 62.6%, chicken and duck eggs 108.9%, vegetables 44.7%, and fruits 78.1%, said Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin.

Chan also said the SSR figures for Malaysia’s other main food commodities were 14.7% for beef, 94.4% for chicken and duck meat, 57.3% for fresh milk and 90.2% for edible fish.

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To improve SSR figures and food security, Chan said his ministry is trying to increase rice productivity through the Large-Scale Smart Padi Field (SMART SBB) programme, the Mini Sekinchan Model and the "five seasons in two years" padi cultivation project.

“The SMART SBB Programme aims to increase the country’s SSR for rice to 75% by 2025 and 80% by 2030,” he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Nov 6).

Chan also said the ministry is looking at increasing the production of fruits and vegetables such as ginger, cabbage and chilli.

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“Under the National Agro Policy 2.0, the ministry is aiming to achieve fruit and vegetable SSR at 83% and 79% respectively by 2030,” he added.

Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) had asked about the types of crops and livestock that the ministry is focussing on to improve the country’s SSR to reduce dependency on food imports.