KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to ensure a significant increase in paddy yields by next year.
He said he highlighted the need to improve farmers' incomes while ensuring a stable rice supply for the nation during the Cabinet Committee Meeting on the National Food Security Policy.
In a social media post, he said that through proactive strategies and collaboration from all parties, the government would continue to prioritise food security for the benefit and welfare of Malaysians.
In October, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu acknowledged the pressing issue of local white rice shortages in the industry.
In response, the ministry took action by consolidating enforcement personnel from various agencies into a single body under the ministry to oversee the agro-food sector.
This comes in light of recent floods during the monsoon season, which have caused the loss of 5.3 million 10-kilogramme packs of potential rice output.
The ministry has since allocated RM13.23 million in aid to support 6,747 affected rice farmers.