KEPALA BATAS, Sept 20 — The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) expects the shortage of local white rice supply in the market to stabilise within a month following various intervention measures and continuous monitoring from the government.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the MAFS engagement session with the country’s rice industry players involving manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers agreed to commit to implementing the Local White Rice Special Programme (PKBPT) nationwide.
“Through PKBPT, manufacturers will increase production by 20 per cent of local white rice supply for the domestic market for a period of one year.
“We will also intervene whenever there is a shortage in supply through the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) and the Farmers’ Organisations Authority (LPP),” he said in a press conference earlier today.
This intervention method was done during the shortage of chicken and egg supplies, which has now been resolved.
Mohamad was speaking after the launch of the Pokok Sena Farmers’ Association (PKK) Farmers’ Outlet (PO), an initiative to distribute local white rice to target groups, especially in areas that do not have supermarkets.
He said this Farmers’ Outlet will sell 2,000 rice packets, priced at RM26 for a 10kg packet.
Meanwhile, LPP director-general Datuk Azulita Salim said from April to August 2023, a total of 62 programmes have been implemented at LPP branches nationwide with a sales value of RM742,361.50 and a total of 45,850 visitors.
“LPP aims for a sales value of RM1.59 million and 53,000 visitors by December this year through the Agro Madani Sales,” she said.
LPP will also involve 40 selected Farmers’ Outlets by targeting 300 metric tonnes of local white rice at a controlled price to stabilise supply nationwide.
— Bernama
