BUTTERWORTH: Efforts are continuously being made by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to ensure that local white rice is available in the market despite supply disruptions due to floods and climate change.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the current stock of local white rice stands at 56%, which is expected to be sufficient.
“We are facing issues with local white rice supply due to flooding, climate change and loss of fields because of housing and business developments. We are trying to find ways to ensure rice is always available in the market to meet consumer needs.
“Droughts in Kelantan, floods in Kedah and the loss of 20,000ha of padi fields have posed challenges. But the government, through our ministry, is continuously working to ensure rice is available, regardless of the source, though prices may vary as we import,” he told reporters here yesterday, Bernama reported.Mohamad, who is also Amanah president, was met after officiating the 2024 Penang Amanah Convention. Also present was Penang Pakatan Harapan chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who is Penang Chief Minister.
Mohamad was responding to consumer complaints that local white rice is difficult to find and only imported rice is available.
Elaborating further, he said the ministry is currently importing 40% of rice from abroad to meet demand in the country.
He said discussions are underway with Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) to reduce the price of imported rice as international prices have dropped due to the strengthening of the ringgit.
For the long term, efforts are being made to replace affected padi fields by collaborating with states such as Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Sarawak.
“The biggest project we want to undertake is with the Sarawak government... but it will take 10 years to produce rice for our long-term supply. In the short term, we have to import rice,” he said.
