KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 3,598ha of padi land in Malaysia's rice granary areas was converted for development purposes between 2021 and 2025, says Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin.
He said the conversion involved various projects, including residential housing, railway construction, commercial developments and public facilities such as schools, homestays and other economic activities.
He said the shrinking hectarage of agricultural land and padi fields was among the factors contributing to declining production, including padi and rice.
"The ministry takes seriously the reduction in agricultural land and padi fields, as this is among the factors contributing to declining agricultural production, including padi and rice," he told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 29).
Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (PH-Port Dickson) wanted to know the extent of agricultural and padi land converted for development over the past five years, including land that remained classified as agricultural but was no longer cultivated.
On measures to protect strategic rice-growing areas, Chan said agricultural zoning had been implemented at the state level, including in designated rice granary areas.
"However, these measures are still insufficient to fully control the reduction of padi land, especially when involving privately owned land, which is subject to land conversion processes and considerations at the state level.
"Gazetting padi fields as protected areas is an important measure that must be given attention to ensure that the land available for rice cultivation can be maintained," he said.
He added that protecting the country's rice-producing areas was essential to improving the sustainability of the agrofood sector and strengthening national food security.
