Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) is focusing on increasing the production of agri-food commodities with low Self-Sufficiency Ratio (SSR) levels to reduce the country's dependence on food imports. Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin highlighted the commodities that require attention, such as ginger, with an SSR of 15.5 percent, mangoes at 20 percent, rice approximating 52 percent, and fresh milk at 66.7 percent.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chan emphasized that efforts to raise SSR cannot be applied uniformly across all commodities, as factors like crop suitability and commercial viability must be considered. "Not all food crops are suitable for cultivation in Malaysia. Therefore, there are other commercial factors that need to be considered," he explained in response to a supplementary question from Senator Abdul Nasir Idris during a session in the Dewan Negara.

Abdul Nasir inquired about the main commodities contributing to the country's agri-food import bill, which is projected to reach RM93.7 billion in 2024. He also questioned whether the Federal Government plans to provide incentives or special payments to Kedah for its commitment to preserving paddy fields. Chan responded by stating that the government is prioritizing strategic commodities with the potential for increased production, such as grain corn, to ensure a stable supply of livestock feed inputs.

In addition to boosting domestic production, the government is strengthening food supply preparedness through buffer stock management. This includes maintaining the country's physical rice stock at 1.05 million metric tonnes as of July 7, 2026, which is sufficient to meet national demand for 6.23 months.

Addressing concerns over food supply to rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak, Chan noted that KPKM is collaborating with PLANMalaysia to develop the National Food Source Area Land Use Planning Master Plan to protect food production areas. He also mentioned that the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak could submit proposals under the National Agri-Food Empowerment Programme (PPAN) to secure Federal Government funding for agricultural development in selected areas.