TELUK INTAN, Sept 29 — Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said he held talks yesterday with representatives of the Indian government over New Delhi’s white rice export restrictions.
“India Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) sent representatives to discuss the issue on a government-to-government (G2G) basis.
“This means that we don’t sit still to ensure an adequate local rice supply and that the price remains affordable. We hope this G2G meeting will help address the current supply shortage,” he told a press conference after visiting Felcra’s Ladang Kekal Pengeluaran Benih Padi here today.
Mohamad was previously reported as saying the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry hoped to hold a meeting with India’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister soon to find the best solution on the issue for the export restrictions.
He said one of the essences of the meeting was to ask the Indian government to continue exporting white rice to Malaysia.
Mohamad once again reminded the public to purchase rice according to their needs and refrain from panic buying.
“If you need two bags of rice a month, then just buy two packets of it… God willing, we can control the supply in the market,” he said.
As part of the long-term plan to address the rice supply issue, Mohamad said the ministry will expand the Large-Scale Smart Padi Field programme in Felcra settlements in Kedah, Kelantan, Kedah and Pahang soon.
He said his ministry will hold discussions with the Sarawak and Sabah governments on developing more padi fields to ensure sufficient and balanced rice supply in the country.
— Bernama
