KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS) is focusing on increasing the production of agri-food commodities with low Self-Sufficiency Ratio (SSR) levels to reduce Malaysia's dependence on food imports.
Agriculture and Food Security Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said commodities that still require attention include ginger (an SSR of 15.5 per cent), mangoes (20 per cent), rice (about 52 per cent), and fresh milk (66.7 per cent).
Efforts to raise SSR could not be applied across all commodities, as factors such as crop suitability and commercial viability must be taken into account.
"Not all food crops are suitable for cultivation in Malaysia. Therefore, there are other commercial factors that need to be considered," he said in reply to Senator Abdul Nasir Idris's supplementary query during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara today.
Nasir had asked about the main commodities contributing to the country's agri-food import bill, which reached RM93.7 billion in 2024, and whether the federal government planned to provide incentives or special payments to Kedah in recognition of the state's commitment to preserving paddy fields.
Chan added that the government is prioritising strategic commodities with the potential for increased production, including grain corn, to ensure a stable supply of livestock feed inputs.
Besides boosting domestic production, it is also strengthening food supply preparedness by managing buffer stocks, including maintaining the country's physical rice stock at 1.05 million metric tonnes as of July 7, 2026, sufficient to meet national demand for 6.23 months.
Meanwhile, in response to concerns about food supply in rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak, he said MAFS is working with PLANMalaysia to develop the National Food Source Area Land Use Planning Master Plan to safeguard food production areas.
The Sabah and Sarawak state governments may also submit proposals under the National Agri-Food Empowerment Programme to obtain federal government funding for agricultural development in selected areas.
