THE Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) expects the supply of local white rice to stabilise within a month following various interventions and monitoring by the government. 

Its minister Mohamad Sabu said the MAFS engagement session with the country’s rice industry players – manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers – concluded with a commitment to implement the Local White Rice Special Programme (PKBPT) nationwide. 

“Through PKBPT, suppliers will increase production by 20% of local white rice for the domestic market for a period of one year. 

“We will also intervene whenever there is a shortage in supply through the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority and the Farmers’ Organisations Authority (LPP),” he said in a press conference today. 

He said an intervention took place during the shortage of chicken and egg supplies, which has now been resolved. 

He said farmers’ outlets would sell 2,000 rice packets, priced at RM26 for a 10kg packet.  

Meanwhile, LPP director-general Azulita Salim said from April to August 2023, a total of 62 programmes had been implemented at LPP branches nationwide with a sales value of RM742,361.50 and a total of 45,850 visitors. 

“LPP aims for a sales value of RM1.59 million and 53,000 visitors by December this year through the Agro Madani Sales,” she said. 

LPP will also involve 40 selected farmers’ outlets, targeting 300 metric tonnes of local white rice at a controlled price to stabilise supply nationwide. – Bernama, September 20, 2023.