KPKM STRIVES TO ENSURE RICE READILY AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET

BUTTERWORTH, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) continuously strives to ensure that stocks of local white rice is available in the market despite supply disruptions due to floods and climate change.

Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the current stock of local white rice stands at 56 per cent, which is expected to be sufficient.

"We are currently facing issues with local white rice supply due to flooding, climate change, loss of (padi) fields because of housing and business developments. We are trying to find ways to ensure rice is always available in the market to meet consumer needs.

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"Drought in Kelantan, floods in Kedah, and the loss of 20,000 hectares of padi fields have posed challenges, but the government, through our ministry, is continuously working to ensure rice stocks are available, regardless of source, though prices may vary as we import," he said to reporters here today.

Mohamad, who is also Amanah president, was met after officiating the 2024 Penang Amanah Convention at a hotel here. Also present was Penang Pakatan Harapan chairman, Chow Kon Yeow, who is also Penang  Chief Minister.

Mohamad said this in response to consumer complaints that local white rice is difficult to find in the market and only imported rice is available.

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Elaborating further, Mohamad said KPKM is currently importing 40 per cent of rice from abroad to meet consumer demand in the country.

He added that discussions are underway with Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) to reduce the price of imported rice as international prices have decreased due to the strengthening of the ringgit, which may have an impact domestically.

"Currently, to meet demand, we are importing rice at a rate of 40 per cent, and we hope to lower the price of (imported) rice. For now, the most important thing is that rice is available," he said.

He said that for the long term, efforts are being made to replace affected padi fields by collaborating with several states, including Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, and Sarawak.

"The biggest project we want to undertake is with the Sarawak government ... but that will take a period of 10 years to produce rice for the country's supply in the long term. In the short term, we have to import rice," he said.

-- BERNAMA