PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) will implement the separation of powers between related agencies and introduce new regulations to strengthen the country's paddy and rice sector, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
He said the separation of powers involved the Rice Industry Development Division (PIP), the Rice Paddy Authority (KPB) and government representatives in Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS).
"...we break it with those involved in the rice industry so that there are no accusations that he (the head of the unit) wears 'one hat for two tasks', this time 'two hats for two tasks'. This has been through the long and lengthy dealings we have made with all parties.
"Now the development of paddy and rice and the law enforcement section are under one director. Now we want to separate," he said in a press conference after the KPKM Monthly Assembly here today.
Regarding the new regulations, he said the Regulations Prohibiting the Mixture of Local White Rice with Imported White Rice Circular will be introduced with a circular about it to be issued in the near future.
Mohamad said KPKM has also introduced a new basis for calculating the Self-Sufficiency Rate (SSR) and Per Capita Consumption (PCC) of the country's rice in line with the standards set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) starting this year.
"Through this new method, the KPKM has determined the basis for the calculation of rice production in 2023 by taking into account the amount of net rice that will be processed into rice only," he said, adding that the calculation does not include the amount of rice produced specifically for seed purposes in the same year.
Through the readjustment of the calculation methodology of rice SSR and PCC using the new method in 2023, the country's rice SSR will be at a rate of 56.2 percent compared to 57.9 percent in 2022.
"A more detailed announcement related to the new method of calculating the national rice SSR will be announced this Friday," he said.
Regarding Sarawak's commitment to the country's rice industry, he said an allocation of RM500 million will be provided by the state to increase the production of rice and rice that other states should emulate.
"This is because the effort to increase the country's rice SSR does not only rest on the shoulders of KPKM, but also requires precise support and cooperation from all parties," he said.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced in July that a sum of RM500 million had been approved to build a rice drainage scheme for 2025, which is an allocation for rice growing areas in Sri Aman, Kuching and Samarahan.
In other developments, he said KPKM is also focusing on increasing meat SSR which is still below 20 percent since the country is still dependent on meat imports from several countries.
Therefore, he said a special committee headed by KPKM Secretary General Datuk Seri Isham Ishak will be established to look into this matter and it is expected that a strategic plan can be produced by the first quarter of 2025 to increase the nation's meat SSR.
Regarding Budget 2025, Mohamad said KPKM has also submitted 32 proposed initiatives to the Ministry of Finance to strengthen the management of the food chain to ensure a more organized and structured supply to all levels of society.
