Govt eyes alternative rice supply

The Star

06-05-2025

PARIT BUNTAR: The government has not ruled out the possibility of increasing rice imports from several regional countries following the ongoing conflict involving India and Pakistan, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu ( pic ).
The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said the turmoil in both countries is expected to affect Malaysia's rice import supply.
'Yes (import supply could be affected), because these two countries export about 38% of rice to Malaysia. I hope and am confident that both sides do not want war.
'However, we will cooperate with countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia to ensure sufficient rice supply in the country,' he told a press conference after the official opening of the Perak Farmers' Organisation's Certified Padi Seed Production Centre here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Earlier, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah graced and officiated the event.
The Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim and the Raja Di Hilir of Perak Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain Sultan Idris Shah also attended the event.
According to international news reports, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following a violent attack in Kashmir, India, on April 22, which resulted in 26 fatalities.
In another development, Mohamad was confident that there would be no panic buying of chicken eggs, citing adequate supply through ongoing government initiatives such as the 'Jualan Rahmah' and 'Jualan Agro' programmes.
Industry reform: Sultan Nazrin (second from left) alongside Tuanku Zara (third from left) attending the official opening of the Perak Farmers' Organisation's Certified Padi Seed Production Centre. — Bernama
He said that predictions about egg prices rising by up to three sen per egg after the full removal of government subsidies on Aug 1 are purely speculative.
'It's just a projection. Similar concerns have arisen in the past, such as when chicken prices fluctuated, but they ultimately remained stable.
'With global feed costs like soy and grain corn on a downward trend, we hope egg prices will also remain steady,' he said.
The Federation of Livestock Farmers' Associations of Malaysia was quoted as saying that egg prices could increase if production costs remain at the current rate of 38sen per egg after the subsidy removal.
On another matter, Mohamad Sabu said the Certified Padi Seed Production Centre of the Perak Farmers' Organisation is expected to produce about 250,000 bags of certified padi seeds annually, with a total production capacity of 5,000 tonnes.
He said the centre would benefit 16,000 padi farmers across Perak and serve as a reference point for quality-certified padi seeds that meet the needs of the farming community.
'I believe that with the setting up of this production centre, development in this district will follow.
'Economic and social development are among the benefits that will be enjoyed by the community, either directly or indirectly,' he said.
Mohamad said three other centres for producing certified padi seeds have been set up in Penang, Selangor and Kedah to complete the value chain of the padi industry.
He said the ministry is focusing on two main agendas: reforming the national padi and rice industry and increasing ruminant productivity, particularly in the production of beef and buffalo meat.
'The reform of the padi and rice industry is not only aimed at supply self-sufficiency but also at elevating the industry to a higher level and increasing the income of our padi farmers,' he added.