PONTIAN: There is ample rice supply in Malaysia despite local production being affected by changing weather patterns, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said this is because the country has been able to meet over 40% of its requirement for rice through imports.
“Currently, local rice production accounts for less than 60% of the country’s total requirements. This shortfall is due to severe droughts in 2021 and 2022, especially in Kedah and Kelantan.
“Additionally, floods in Kedah this year affected rice crops, arriving in September instead of the predicted October,” he said after attending the Santuni Madani programme and the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kampung Parit Jerman agro-tourism centre here yesterday.
Mohamad was addressing concerns about the nation’s rice supply, noting that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to India had further bolstered the country’s rice stocks.
“During the Prime Minister’s visit, India agreed to supply an additional 200,000 tonnes of rice to Malaysia.
“Pakistan has also offered us white rice, in addition to the regular imports we receive from Thailand,” he said, adding that the strengthening of the ringgit has helped reduce the cost of imports.
On a separate matter, Mohamad said Malaysia is also working towards making pineapples one of the country’s main commodities.
“We are focusing on boosting the pineapple industry so that it can become a major export product and a key local food source.
“We hope to develop pineapples into a primary export product, much like durians,” he said.
