Decline in padi land raises food security concerns
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia lost 8,486ha of padi cultivation land between 2020 and 2025, raising concerns over efforts to increase domestic rice production and reduce dependence on imports.
Malaysia experienced an 8,486ha reduction in padi cultivation land between 2020 and 2025, sparking concerns about domestic rice production and reliance on imports. Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin highlighted that 5,676ha of the decline occurred within designated rice granary areas, while 2,810ha were outside these zones.
The government recognized the seriousness of the situation, especially as Malaysia strives for a 54.3% rice self-sufficiency rate in 2025. Chan addressed this issue during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, responding to concerns raised by Datuk Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai) over the conversion of padi fields to other agricultural uses.
Idris pointed out that the padi cultivation area in Kerian, Perak, shrank from 24,000ha to 17,000ha between 2020 and 2024, warning that ongoing decline could jeopardize the nation's food security.
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