Government Targets Rice Self-Sufficiency Ratio of 75% by 2025!

Malaysia has set national rice self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) targets of 75% by 2025, and 80% by 2030. The national rice SSR stood at 62.6% as of 2022. To improve the rice SSR, the ministry is focusing on increasing rice productivity through the Mini Sekinchan Large-Scale Smart Paddy Project.

In Malaysia, local white rice is a controlled food item whose price is capped at RM26 ($5.54) per 10kg. Imported rice has been generally been pricier than local rice. The country mostly imports white rice from India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The Indian government restricted rice exports to boost domestic stocks that were threatened by erratic rain patterns in August. The government wanted to keep the retail prices under check.

The Malaysian Agriculture Ministry is currently monitoring the supply status of eight main food commodities, namely rice, vegetables, fruits, chicken/duck meat, chicken/duck eggs, beef, fresh milk, and edible fish. In 2022, the SSR of vegetables stood at 44.7%, while fruits were 78.1%, beef was 14.7%, chicken and duck meat was 94.4%, chicken and duck eggs were 108.9%, fresh milk was 57.3%, and edible fish was 90.2%.

For vegetables and fruits that have low SSRs and a high import rate, the ministry aims to increase the production of vegetables such as ginger, cabbage, and chilli and fruits such as coconuts, as the National Agrofood Policy 2.0 targets a fruit SSR of 83%, and a vegetable SSR of 79% by 2030.

Targets are all good, but it is the implementation of plans that is weak. Land is a state matter and the Federal Government has to get the “buy-in” of particular states for this to work. Meanwhile, the Government could persuade Felda and Felcra to improve output of perishable items (vegetables etc.), not just palm oil and rubber.

References:

Govt targets rice self-sufficiency rato of 75% by 2025, 80% by 2030, Choy Nyen Yiau, theedgemalaysia.com, 7 November 2023

Malaysia grapples with rice shortage amid global price surge, Norman Goh, Nikkei Asia, 28 September 2023

Against the grain: The many pressures that are cooking up a rice crisis, Rakshanda Sharma, The Economic Times, 24 October 2023