THE Farmers’ Organisation Authority (FOA) has assured that local white rice supply in the country is sufficient to cope with the demand for the staple food.

FOA director-general Azulita Salim said despite various challenges such as the unpredictable weather, which has affected rice growth resulting in its limited supply, this should not be a cause for concern for the people as supplies have been distributed to the affected locations.

“We do limit the purchase to two bags of 20kg for each customer at a controlled price of RM26 for a 10kg pack.

“As soon as the ministry gave the instructions, we immediately contacted the manufacturers to direct supplies to the affected areas in efforts to help the people deal with the current shortage of local white rice in the market,” she said after the launch of the Madani Agro Sale for the Kota Baru district at Sultan Ismail Petra Perak Silver Jubilee Complex in Panji today.

Azulita said the local white rice was supplied to 40 FOA premises comprising 23 farmers’ outlets, eight agro bazaars and nine farmers’ shops.

Earlier, the media reported that 700 tonnes of local white rice would be distributed throughout the peninsula from yesterday, through a special programme for direct distribution and sale to end users through FOA premises and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) in the north, central, south and east zones.

The total distribution under FOA up to the end of this year is 300 tonnes while Fama’s total distribution is 400 tonnes. – Bernama, September 23, 2023.