PETALING JAYA: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has assured adequate supply of rice with over a million metric tonnes readily available.

       The ministry said that currently the National Cost of Living Action Council (Naccol) meeting last month has decided on a price reduction for imported white rice ranging from RM2 to RM3 which has been implemented to meet consumer needs.

       It also said that the distribution of local white rice stocks is actively underway.

       “To date, the physical stock of rice in the country is at 1,096,964 metric tonnes, including a buffer stock of 290,000 metric tonnes.

       “To ensure the nation's rice supply, this amount is stable and capable of fulfilling the needs for a period of 5.48 months.

       “Furthermore, the ratio of the country's physical rice stock to its population is among the highest and most secure in the region,” the ministry said in a statement on Monday (April 8).

       It added that the government has also been implementing various initiatives to ensure the increase of local rice production, particularly through the 12 Rice Wave Initiatives.

       StarPicks

       Honouring our local writers

       These include the expansion of the Large-Scale Smart Paddy Fields (Smart SBB) programme similar to Sekinchan, a planting programme of five rice seasons over two years, and initiatives to strengthen irrigation infrastructure for paddy fields.

       “The ministry also encourages the cultivation and consumption of other nutritious and healthy crops by the citizens, in addition to the staple food.

       “This emphasis is a major part of the ministry’s agenda in executing the national food security strategy in line with the National Agro-Food Policy (NAP) 2021-2030,” it added.