Demand for rice increases during MCO

CORONAVIRUS | The demand for rice went up last month amid the authorities limiting movements in the final two weeks to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

According to Syarikat Faiza senior manager, Jadwa Abu Bakar, his company estimated that demand has increased by 30 percent and his company was able to keep up the supply.

"It is caused by panic buying and NGOs which are distributing food. Alhamdulilah, we can still meet demand," he told reporters today.

Jadwa said the main problem for rice retailers are logistical.

"Sometimes, shipments are not on time. Our suppliers have machines which have a fixed capacity.

"When the demand is high, (retailers) have to wait in queue. The production and transport capacity is the same," he said.

Jadwa was speaking to reporters after receiving a visit from Agriculture and Food Industry Deputy Minister II Che Abdullah Mat Nawi at Syarikat Faiza's factory in Taman Industri Subang, Selangor.

Asked about the possibility of costlier imported rice, Che Abdullah said that cannot be denied.

"All countries are trying to ensure food security. There's no denying the price of goods might go up.

"Therefore, the government must pay attention (to this)," he said.

However, Che Abdullah, who is also Tumpat MP, said local rice prices cannot be increased and Malaysia has a stockpile of 500,000 tonnes.

"On average, Malaysia consumes 200,000 tonnes a month. This means we have enough rice if local production remains constant," he said.

Che Abdullah said Malaysia imported about 30 percent of its rice needs and the government is now looking beyond the usual exports - Vietnam and Thailand -  and are approaching India, Myanmar, Cambodia and Pakistan. - Mkini