KUALA LUMPUR – The government should allocate more gazetted land areas for rice cultivation to ensure a consistent supply of local rice on the market, reducing dependence on imported rice.
Speaking to Scoop, Prof Mohd Rafii Yusop of the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security at Universiti Putra Malaysia said there are many suitable lands for rice planting and harvesting projects, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, that can be explored more extensively.
He added that this move could increase current local rice production, which is at 63%.
“Currently, the local rice supply only covers 63%, leaving the remaining 37% dependent on imports from Thailand and Vietnam.
“Our country produces rice for two harvest seasons, covering approximately 390,000ha of rice paddy land. This totals 680,000ha per year, capable of yielding harvests.”
“In order to boost the supply percentage, the government must exert effort in allocating more gazetted land for rice and paddy field cultivation. If we look closely, there are many untapped areas in Sabah and Sarawak that could emerge as potential sites for rice cultivation.
Even the land in Rompin and Pekan, Pahang, is considered suitable for development into rice fields,” he said today.
Rafii said among various alternatives, enhancing rice production involves studying plant seeds, land preparation, and post-harvest management to prevent any damage to the current rice supply.
“Another viable option is to focus on increasing productivity in terms of hectares. Currently, the production per hectare stands at approximately 4.2 tonnes. By increasing this to 6 tonnes, we can effectively meet the country’s growing needs.
“Currently, there are 12 rice granaries nationwide, including in Sabah and Sarawak.
He said that enhancing the quality of plant seeds, mitigating rice damage caused by pests, and effectively managing post-harvest processes could indirectly boost the productivity of the rice supply available for consumers.
There are a total of 12 national rice granaries in the country, including the Integrated Agricultural Development Area, Muda Agricultural Development Authority, Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority, North Terengganu Integrated Agriculture Development Area, and others.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali had previously announced that the National Livelihood Action Council (Naccol) would hold a special meeting this Friday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will chair the meeting to address the pressing issue of the cost of living, with a particular focus on the country’s rice supply.
Armizan also said that his ministry, as Naccol’s secretariat, has received confirmation from the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry on the inclusion of the country’s rice supply as a crucial topic for discussion during the meeting. – February 20, 2024