Kuala Lampur:The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) has proposed the gazetting of 217,165 hectares of rice bowl areas across the country. This proposal follows an observed reduction of 8,486 hectares in paddy field acreage between 2020 and 2025.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin stated that 5,676 hectares of the reduction occurred within rice bowl areas, while 2,810 hectares were outside these key areas. The gazettement aims to halt the shrinking of paddy cultivation areas and boost domestic rice production.

Chan emphasized the importance of this issue, noting that the ministry has recommended that all state governments in Malaysia propose the gazetting of rice bowl areas to prevent further losses in paddy cultivation spaces. This was discussed during a meeting with state agriculture ministers and executive councillors.

In response to a question from Datuk Dr Idris Ahmad, Chan elaborated on the government's initiatives to boost domestic paddy and rice production. These include a project to cultivate paddy for five seasons over two years in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) area, upgrades to irrigation infrastructure in Sabah and Sarawak's Integrated Agricultural Development Areas (IADA), and the strengthening of the Large-Scale Smart Paddy Field (SMART SBB) programme. These efforts aim to achieve an 80 percent rice self-sufficiency level by 2030.