Malaysia confident of achieving 80 per cent rice self-sufficiency by 2010

Malaysia should be able to achieve 80 per cent rice self-sufficiency by
2010 based on the positive results of government efforts like the
provision of incentives and subsidies, and implementation of mini estate
and cluster projects.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the '10
tonnes of padi per hectare" project also had positive results, with the
project now covering 85,081 hectares involving 24,600 farmers nationwide
and overall increase in padi production by 26.55 per cent.

"With all the initiatives undertakan, the government is confident that
the country will achieve 80 per cent self-sufficiency in rice by 2010,"
he said in the Dewan Rakyat today in reply to a question from Ahmad
Kasim (PKR-Kuala Kedah).

However, he added, at the moment the government had not set a target for
100 per cent rice self-sufficiency.

"The government has to be realistic about setting the target as more
areas would have to be opened up for padi growing and this will involve
a high cost for the government to bear."

Noh said the government had also given a big allocation of RM3.5 billion
for 2008 to 2010 to implement the '10 tonnes per hectare of padi'
project (better known as the 10-Tonne Padi Project), which included
improving the irrigation system in the integrated agricultural
development areas (Kada).

He said the poverty percentage in the Kada areas had also been reduced,
with only one per cent making up the hardcore poor, hence indicating the
effectiveness of the government programmes in improving the lot of the
people.

Noh said before Kada came into existence, the poverty rate was 75 per
cent and the padi production was only at 3.5 tonnes per year in these
areas, but now it had increased to 10 tonnes for two planting seasons in
a year.