A TOTAL of 3,598ha of padi land in rice granary areas was converted for development between 2021 and 2025, says Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin.
He said the shrinking acreage of agricultural land and padi fields is among the factors behind declining production.
He said the conversion of land involved various projects, including housing, railway construction, commercial developments, public facilities and other economic activities.
“The ministry takes the reduction in agricultural land and padi fields seriously, as this is among the factors contributing to declining agricultural production, including rice.”
Chan was responding to Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (PH-Port Dickson), who sought figures on agricultural and padi land converted for development over the past five years, including land still classified as agricultural but no longer cultivated.
On measures to protect strategic rice-growing areas, Chan said states had implemented agricultural zoning, including in designated padi granary areas.
However, these measures were insufficient to fully curb the loss of padi land, particularly privately owned plots, which were subject to state-level land conversion processes and considerations, he added.
“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 added that protecting the country’s rice-producing areas was essential to improving the sustainability of the agro-food sector and strengthening national food security.
In February, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu told the Dewan Rakyat that the country’s rice self-sufficiency level remained around 52% in early 2026, well below the government’s target of 75% by 2025 and 80% by 2030 under the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030.
