The Rice and Padi Regulatory Office’s Sandakan Branch and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry have issued a joint statement assuring that the supply of necessary goods, including local rice, in Sapi Nangoh, Beluran, is stable and easily accessible. The statement follows an integrated operation conducted in Sapi Nangoh on September 22, where 10 premises, including rice mills and retailers, were inspected.
During the inspection, it was discovered that the padi cultivated by farmers in the area will be ready for harvest by the end of this month. This will allow the factory to carry out the rice milling process and produce local white rice. However, certain factors such as unpredictable weather, pest attacks, and the increased cost of agricultural inputs like poisons and fertilisers have affected the quality and quantity of padi yields, leading to a shortage of local white rice supply in the Sandakan market. Furthermore, the rise in the price of imported white rice has prompted more Sabahans to buy local white rice, which has put additional pressure on the supply chain.
The government of Sabah does not control the price of local white rice in the state as it is determined by market demand. Nevertheless, the Padi Regulatory Office and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry are committed to ensuring sufficient rice supply and reasonable prices for consumers.
Original Source: The Star
Credit: The Star : News Feed
