30-9-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu revealed that Malaysia has initiated discussions with Indian representatives regarding the restrictions on white rice exports from India, aiming to overcome the shortage faced by Malaysia.
“The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has dispatched representatives for government-to-government (G2G) talks on this matter. We hope that this G2G meeting will help alleviate the current supply shortage,” he stated during a press conference after his visit to Felcra’s Ladang Kekal Pengeluaran Benih Padi.
Mohamad also urged the public to purchase rice in accordance with their needs and to avoid unnecessary panic. He emphasized, “If you require two bags of rice per month, simply purchase two packets.”
In order to address the long-term issue of rice supply, Mohamad disclosed that the ministry intends to expand the Large-Scale Smart Padi Field (SBB Smart) program in Felcra settlements located in Kedah, Kelantan, and Pahang in the near future. Additionally, discussions will be held with the governments of Sarawak and Sabah to develop more padi fields in those states, ensuring sufficient and balanced rice supplies.
Mohamad acknowledged that local rice production is still inadequate and stressed the importance of increasing yield to meet the country’s demands. “We will explore various methods to achieve this. If we can succeed in implementing large-scale initiatives in specific areas, we will be able to meet the nation’s requirements,” he affirmed.
He further revealed that the Federal Government has been in talks with the Sabah government to expand padi fields. However, one of the challenges faced in Sabah is related to irrigation, which requires significant financial investment. “But for the sake of food security, I believe it is necessary to allocate funds for irrigation,” Mohamad asserted, noting that there is approximately 20,234 hectares of land in Sabah suitable for padi cultivation.
