SELF-sufficiency in rice ought to seriously considered in the light of a possible shortage of this staple in the regional and global markets.
There are several reasons for this, including progressive production decline in exporting countries and the steep increase in demand for the commodity.
Malaysia cannot just depend on the northern state of Kedah for domestic rice output, and imports from countries in Mainland Southeast Asia to meet national consumption.
In recent days, change in climatic patterns due purportedly to global warming have brought severe floodings to Thailand and some parts of Vietnam and Cambodia, devastating their rice fields and sparking fears of markedly reduced production and by extension, exports from these countries to those in and around the region.
The New Agriculture Policy, announced sometime ago, attempts to create a more dynamic approach to modern agriculture by taking advantage of the vast natural resources available in the country, especially in a state like Sarawak with abundant land space.
Indeed, the need to increase rice production in Sarawak is much greater now. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu acknowledged this when he said erratic weather conditions, caused by climate change, that disrupted rice production in major producing countries like Thiland, Vietnam, Cambodia, was making it all the more crucial for Sarawak to strive for self-sufficiency in the staple.
Opening the Sarawak Rice Conference (Saricon) 2011 in Kuching, Jabu who is also Agriculture Modernisation Minister, said although over 100 rice varieties were grown and sold locally, the state had only attained 52 per cent self-sufficiency – well short of the targetted 65 per cent.
To make up the shortfall, the state imports 40 per cent of its needs from Vietnam, 38 per cent from Thailand and the rest from India and other countries.
Three varieties of grains – Bario rice, Sarawak Beras Bajong and Sarawak Beras Biris – have been granted the Geographical Indications (GI) by the Malaysian Intellectual Property Organisation. The advantage of such an accreditation is that both producers and consumers are assured of the authenticity and consistency in the quality of the product.
Jabu also urged the various agencies concerned to acquire at least three more varieties with GI in the next three years.
One pilot rice cultivation project has gotten underway in Palok, Mukah, but is reportedly facing problems related to drainage and irrigation.
However, another commercial rice project in a different part of the state appears to be doing well, indicating that with the right soil condition, technology, expertise and sufficient capital outlay, commercial rice cultivation is viable in Sarawak.
The federal government supports the endeavour to make Sarawak the second rice bowl of Malaysia after Kedah.
In fact, the country’s first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, on a visit in the mid-1960’s, had declared that Sarawak would become an important rice bowl of Malaysia.
For some reason, this was never translated into action, perhaps due to the lack of follow-up or political will or both.
A country with vast tracts of arable land can be organised into a highly successful rural-based agragrian society, which, in the context of today’s economy, means improving the incomes and standards of living of the rural people. Rice cultivation, if undertaken on a commercial scale in areas identified as suitable throughout Sarawak, will impact positively on especially the rural community.
We must take the cue from some of the highly industrialised countries such as Japan, the US and the UK where farmers have become extremely prosperous because their governments recognise their important roles in the national economic development through engaging in domestic food production.
In some of these countries, the farming communities have been able to circumvent the problems of land scarcity to embark on large-scale commercial agriculture with the help of their governments and the introduction of the latest technologies.
Similarly, we can do the same here with support from the government in terms of technical assistance and even grants to help new local investors or village-based co-operative societies venture into rice cultivation with minimum red tape and costs.
The state government has moved in the right direction by emphasising on large-scale rice production. If we must pay a premium price for the commodity produced locally, so be it.
It’s better than footing progressively lofty importation bills. Indeed, there can be no excuse not to step up domestic rice production in view of the availability of land in our state and country.