Farmers’ Authority Urges Granting Smallholders Ownership of Rice Mills
Published on: January 15, 2024.
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PUTRAJAYA SHOULD SUPPORT RICE FARMERS TO OVERCOME LOCAL WHITE RICE SHORTAGE
The Farmers’ Organisation Authority (FOA) has called on Putrajaya to assist rice farmers in owning small-scale rice mills in order to address the shortage of local white rice. FOA director-general, Azulita Salim, suggests that government grants could be provided to help farmers acquire milling machines, which cost approximately RM5,000 each.
Owning small rice mills would enable farmers to play a more active role in reducing the shortage of local white rice by cultivating their own rice or consuming the rice they have grown themselves. Each rice milling machine is capable of producing 2.5kg of good quality rice per cycle, providing farmers with a valuable resource.
Azulita Salim also expressed optimism that the establishment of three certified rice milling plants in Kedah, Perak, and Selangor will significantly contribute to resolving the shortage issue. Once these mills are fully operational, they will make a substantial impact on the country’s rice supply.
Currently, there is only one certified rice mill located in Lahar Bubu, Penang, which can process about 5,000 metric tonnes of certified rice seeds per year. However, this capacity is insufficient to meet the requirements of Malaysia’s 240,000 farmers, who require approximately 72,000 metric tonnes per year. The shortage of local white rice is a pressing concern that needs to be urgently addressed.
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