PUTRAJAYA: The nation's rice stockpile currently stands at 200,000 metric tonnes, sufficient to meet domestic needs for some 6.66 months.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, stated that the total physical stock of rice in the country amounts to 1,331,016 metric tonnes.
"This supply is enough to sustain the country’s needs for over six months," he said when met by reporters after officiating the National Agricultural and Food Engineering Convention (NAFEC) 2025 here on Wednesday (May 7) as reported in Sinar Harian.
He was responding to concerns regarding rising tensions between India and Pakistan in Kashmir, which is feared would escalate.
According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for 2024/2025, India produces approximately 147 million metric tonnes of rice, accounting for 27% of global output.
This makes India the largest rice producer, surpassing China, which produces around 145.28 million metric tonnes.
Pakistan, meanwhile, produces about 10 million metric tonnes of rice, ranking it as the 10th largest producer in the world. Although its total output is smaller compared to other countries, Pakistan is well-known as a major exporter of the high-value Basmati rice variety in the international market.
Commenting on concerns over potential supply disruptions due to the geopolitical conflict between these nations, Arthur said that Malaysia has specific measures and strategies in place to safeguard its rice supply, including the diversification of rice sources.
"We procure supplies from other countries to ensure that the buffer stock remains adequate to meet national rice demand.
"This way, the country is not affected by geopolitical conflicts," he said.
Meanwhile, in his speech, he said the government is focusing on various aspects to boost national paddy and rice production productivity.
Among these efforts is the allocation of RM1bil to the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) for an infrastructure development project to support the five-season paddy planting programme within two years in the Muda area.
The achievements of the 12th Malaysia Plan will shape the policy direction of the 13th Malaysia Plan, which will focus on modern, competitive, and high-tech agriculture and agri-food sectors. This aligns with the 13th Malaysia Plan to maintain an industry-centric policy based on high-growth sectors, including modern agriculture and agro-based industries.
