PUTRAJAYA, Oct 9 — The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS) will establish the separation of powers among relevant agencies and introduce new regulations to strengthen the country’s padi and rice sector.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the separation of powers would involve the padi Industry Development Division, Rice Regulatory Division and government representatives in Padiberas Nasional Bhd.
“We are separating those involved in the padi industry so there will be no accusations that a unit head is ‘wearing one hat for two tasks’. This time, it will be ‘two hats for two tasks’, and this decision was made after an extensive and lengthy engagement with all parties.
“Currently, padi and rice development, and the enforcement division are under one director. Now, they are going to be separated,” he said in a press conference after the MAFS monthly assembly here today.
On the new regulations, he said the introduction of a Circular Prohibiting the Mixing of Local White Rice with Imported White Rice will be introduced, with the circular expected to be issued soon.
He said MAFS has also introduced a new calculation basis for the country’s self-sufficiency rate (SSR) and per capita consumption (PCC) of rice in line with the standards set by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations from this year.
“Through this new method, MAFS has determined the calculation basis for padi production in 2023, by only taking into account the amount of clean padi that will be processed into rice,” he said, adding that the calculation does not include the amount of padi set aside for seed purposes for the same year.
With the adjustment in the methodology for calculating SSR and PCC for rice using the new method in 2023, the country’s SSR for rice is at 56.2 per cent, slightly lower compared to 57.9 per cent in 2022.
“A more detailed announcement regarding the new calculation method for the country’s SSR for rice will be made on Friday,” he said.
Commenting on Sarawak’s commitment to the padi industry, he said the state is allocating RM500 million to increase padi and rice production, which should be emulated by other states.
“This is because the effort to increase the country’s SSR for rice is not solely MAFS’ responsibility, we also require strong support and cooperation from all parties,” he said.
In July, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg announced RM500 million was approved for a padi irrigation scheme in 2025, with allocations for padi planting areas in Sri Aman, Kuching, and Samarahan.
In another development, he said MAFS is focusing on increasing the SSR for meat, which is still below 20 per cent, as the country is still reliant on imported meat from several countries.
He said a special committee, chaired by MAFS secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, will be formed to address the matter, with a strategic plan expected to be formulated by the first quarter of 2025 to improve the country’s SSR for meat.
On Budget 2025, he said MAFS has submitted 32 initiative proposals to the Finance Ministry to strengthen food supply chain management, to ensure more structured supply for all levels of society.
— Bernama
