Kedah floods threaten rice output

Ruined fields: Mat Razi Bahari, 58, from Gunung Hilir village showing his damaged padi due to the flood and overflowing high tide at Mount Keriang during a flood survey around Sungai Baru. — Bernama

ALOR SETAR: The national rice output is at risk if flooding issues are not addressed promptly, says the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada).

Its chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said the country’s latest self-sufficiency rate (SSR) for rice stood at 56.2% in 2023, which was still far behind the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry’s target of achieving an SSR of 75% by 2025.