{
  "id": 12796153,
  "title": "Malaysia targets 80pct rice self-sufficiency level by 2030",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/malaysia-targets-80pct-rice-self-sufficiency-level-by-2030",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-08T05:17:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1550408/malaysia-targets-80pct-rice-self-sufficiency-level-2030"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "MELAKA: The Malaysian government is ramping up initiatives to boost domestic rice production and decrease reliance on imports. As of 2025, the country's rice self-sufficiency rate (SSR) is at 54.3 percent. Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin unveiled a series of plans to reach a national target of 80 percent by 2030. These include cultivating paddy in five seasons over two years using the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada). The government is also upgrading irrigation infrastructure, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak. Strengthening the SMART Large-Scale Paddy Field program is another step to expand cultivation areas and enhance productivity. In response to a query from Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Chan explained that the rice SSR has dropped from 68 percent in 2018 to 54.3 percent in 2025. The ministry has also crafted a comprehensive plan to safeguard food supply continuity, covering key industries like rice, fisheries, livestock, and vegetables. Five categories of food commodities recorded self-sufficiency rates surpassing 90 percent in 2025, with duck meat leading at 127.1 percent. However, overall vegetable self-sufficiency remains low at 46.6 percent due to heavy dependence on imported varieties. Chan emphasized that coordinated efforts across Malaysia's regions would enhance the country's food supply chain and global disruption resilience.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The government is intensifying efforts to increase domestic rice production and reduce dependence on imports, with the country’s rice self-sufficiency rate (SSR) standing at 54.3 per cent in 2025.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysia aims for 80% rice self-sufficiency by 2030.",
    "Rice self-sufficiency rate dropped from 68% in 2018 to 54.3% in 2025.",
    "Initiatives include five-season paddy cultivation and upgrading irrigation infrastructure."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Malaysia's push to boost domestic rice production means it aims to sharply cut imports and gain greater food supply chain resilience by 2030, driven by upgraded infrastructure and enhanced productivity.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}