Malaysia's rice self-sufficiency ratio needs to reach 80 per cent, says Mohamad

Malaysia's Agriculture and Food Security Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, has stated that the rice self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) in the country should be increased to a minimum of 80 per cent. This is necessary to ensure a comfortable supply of rice and maintain adequate food security levels. Currently, an SSR below 60 per cent is considered insufficient for the nation's food needs.

To achieve this goal, the minister emphasized the importance of strengthening the country's rice ecosystem and boosting domestic rice production.

The minister proposed encouraging companies and capable entities to establish larger rice fields, with the support of state governments. He also outlined plans to enhance productivity and bolster the supply chain by integrating technology, fostering innovation, and creating more opportunities for value creation throughout the industry chain.

The agriculture sector is currently advancing through the application of data, technology, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), innovation, and entrepreneurship, all while considering environmental sustainability.

In addition to increasing rice production, Mohamad suggested exploring an approach to integrating giant freshwater prawn farming with rice cultivation. This idea was inspired by his visit to a rice-growing area in China, where rice cultivation was harmoniously combined with giant freshwater prawn farming. By doing so, farmers can generate two sources of yield from a single agricultural area.

Although Malaysia has a more favorable climate for giant freshwater prawn farming compared to China, the integration of the two farming methods has yet to be widely implemented in Malaysia. The minister encouraged further investigation into this potential approach, particularly in paddy areas with consistent irrigation systems, to maximize the use of available space for both rice and giant freshwater prawn production.