By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 16: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security plans to review the ceiling price of local white rice (BPT) by taking into consideration current production costs, future cost projections, and global rice price fluctuations.
In a news report by TVS, Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu noted that the last increase in the purchasing floor price for paddy, set at RM1,300 per metric tonne, occurred in 2008, while the price of BPT has remained unchanged since then.
“The Ministry has established a task force to address issues related to the national paddy and rice industry, including a study on the competitiveness of the pricing structure for paddy and rice.
“Additionally, the ministry is awaiting a report on the paddy and rice industry study, which will be submitted by the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) soon,” he stated in a written reply published on the official Parliament of Malaysia website.
This was in response to Padang Terap MP Nurul Amin Hamid who inquired whether the ministry plans to increase the ceiling price of rice.
Mohamad indicated that the findings from the study would guide the ministry in enhancing the paddy and rice industry through the established task force.
He added that the maximum price of BPT has been fixed at RM2.60 per kilogramme since 2008 to ensure the public can access rice at reasonable prices amid the significant rise in global rice prices.
“However, after 16 years, the maximum price of local rice has yet to be reviewed. The ministry is committed to prioritising the welfare of farmers and ensuring they receive appropriate attention,” he affirmed. — DayakDaily
