Answer for Written Question PT041
QUESTION
Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin
YANG BERHORMAT AWANG HAJI SALLEH BOSTAMAN BIN HAJI ZAINAL ABIDIN asked the MENTERI SUMBER-SUMBER UTAMA DAN PELANCONGAN to state the extent to which the Ministry has reviewed the subsidy structure and buy-back prices, including reducing dependence on imported rice, and ways to encourage increased local paddy production.
ANSWER
Yang Berhormat Menteri Sumber-Sumber Utama dan Pelancongan
Through the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, the Ministry will continuously examine and review the support structure provided to the paddy cultivation industry, including the subsidy scheme and the Paddy Price Assistance Scheme, to ensure that the policies implemented continue to support the sustainable development of the local paddy industry.
The approach taken is to ensure that Government support can increase productivity and production efficiency, thereby helping to increase the income of paddy farmers and reduce dependence on subsidies in the long term.
In this regard, several efforts are being implemented to strengthen the local paddy industry. These include the use of paddy varieties with the potential to produce higher yields, more efficient farm management, as well as strengthening research and innovation to increase paddy crop productivity.
In addition, collaborative approaches among farmers are also encouraged to enable the more effective use of agricultural machinery and farm facilities, thereby achieving better economies of scale and reducing production costs.
These measures aim to increase local paddy production and subsequently contribute to efforts to reduce dependence on imported rice.
However, taking into account that the area of land suitable for paddy cultivation in the country is limited, the national food security approach also considers the need to ensure the diversification of rice supply sources through stable and secure imports, while continuing to strengthen local production. Therefore, in diversifying rice supply sources, the Ministry, together with other relevant agencies, is currently exploring the potential for cultivating paddy overseas.
Through this approach, the Ministry aims to ensure that the local paddy industry continues to develop sustainably and contributes to the country’s food security in the long term. The Ministry has also targeted rice production for the self-sufficiency rate over the next five (5) years to increase from 2,594 metric tonnes in 2025 to 4,030 metric tonnes by 2030, as shown in the following table:
| Year | 2025 (actual) | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice production target (MT) | 2,594 | 3,004 | 3,315 | 3,575 | 3,900 | 4,030 |
| Self-sufficiency target (%) | 8.5% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 11% | 12% |
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