Malaysia defines two priorities to ensure food security

Malaysia's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) has set two major priorities for this year - reforming the national rice and paddy industry, and increasing productivity in the ruminant sector, particularly beef and buffalo meat production.

KPKM Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu was quoted by local media as saying that the rice and paddy industry reforms aim not only to ensure self-sufficiency in the local rice supply but also to modernize the sector with sustainable, competitive, and eco-friendly approaches.

As rice demand grows, Malaysia must increase paddy production to achieve a national self-sufficiency level of 71%, compared to the current 56%. However, challenges such as recent floods and prolonged droughts have further affected yields.

To enhance competitiveness, improve farmers’ welfare, and ensure a secure rice supply, KPKM has outlined four key strategies.

The four strategies are upgrading irrigation infrastructure within and outside designated granary areas, developing new granary zones in Sabah and Sarawak, redeveloping abandoned paddy fields nationwide, and restructuring the rice and paddy value chain.

On increasing ruminant productivity, Mohamad said KPKM will import more breeds from overseas to increase domestic meat production.

In November 2024, to address these challenges, a Special Committee on Ruminant Industry Empowerment was established. The main focus of this committee is to empower the national ruminant industry so it can grow more sustainably and competitively.