The supply of local white rice in Malaysia has been disrupted due to uncertain weather and diseases during the last harvest season between April and August. According to Amir Mat Amin, the deputy director of development at the Farmers Organisation Authority (LPP), the padi yield per harvest dipped to only four metric tonnes per hectare, compared to the usual average of seven metric tonnes. This shortage of local white rice has become more noticeable after the price of imported rice increased and forced some consumers to switch to the local variety. Flooding and changes in consumption patterns have also contributed to the shortage.
Traders and supermarkets in various states, including Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Perlis, Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan, have acknowledged this shortage of local white rice. In early September, the price of imported white rice was adjusted by Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) from RM2,350 to RM3,200 per tonne, leading to an increase in its retail price. Currently, consumers are finding it difficult to find enough local white rice in stores, leaving them with only the more expensive imported rice.
In Selangor, Ah Chong, a rice company owner, explained that the current shortage of local white rice is due to the harvesting season in the state starting in mid-October, meaning that the staple food will only be available in stores in early November. Similarly, in Melaka, grocery stores, hypermarkets, and supermarkets are facing a lack of supply of local white rice, forcing food traders to switch to imported rice and slightly increasing food prices.
In Pahang, Muhammad Yusuf Hashim, a trader from Felda Selancar 2, Rompin, has not received a regular supply of local white rice for the past month, resulting in him selling only imported rice. He tried sourcing for supply in Johor but was unsuccessful. A supermarket manager in Kuantan also confirmed that the supply of local rice has been facing problems since mid-August.
In Kedah, inspections conducted at 30 premises revealed that Super Special Local Rice (SST) was not available in the market, with only two premises having limited quantities. The situation is no different in Perak, where a supermarket manager reported a shortage of local white rice since June, worsened by the recent increase in the price of imported rice. Similar reports are coming from Penang, where grocery store traders have not received local white rice supply and wholesalers are struggling to secure stock from producers.
In Sarawak, however, there are no shortage problems as local white rice can still be found in abundance in stores. The prices, though, are much higher than usual, with a 10kg bag being sold at RM40. Overall, the shortage of local white rice in Malaysia has led to increased reliance on imported rice, which is more expensive and affects consumers, particularly those in the B40 group.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
