Mat Sabu: Malaysia needs rice self-sufficiency rate of at least 80pc for secure supply

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu has emphasized the importance of increasing Malaysia's rice self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) to at least 80 per cent to guarantee a stable supply of rice, stating that a rate below 60 per cent is insufficient to ensure food security. The ministry is committed to enhancing the country's rice ecosystem and boosting domestic rice production to meet the necessary supply levels.

Sabu encourages companies and capable parties to expand rice fields, collaborating with state governments to secure suitable land for this purpose. The minister also highlighted the need to improve productivity and strengthen the supply chain by leveraging technology and fostering innovation in the sector. Sabu acknowledged the growing integration of advanced technologies, such as data, automation, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship, in the agriculture industry, while emphasizing the critical role of diligence and determination in achieving the desired productivity increase.

Additionally, the minister proposed exploring the integration of giant freshwater prawn farming in rice fields to generate two yields from a single agricultural area. He noted that this approach, which has been limited to small-scale implementations thus far, holds significant potential, particularly in paddy areas with reliable irrigation systems.

This potential could be further studied and potentially implemented in the future, contributing to more efficient land utilization for rice and giant freshwater prawn production.