Page 35 - MTSR Vol1_2021

Chart 8: Production of paddy and rice (‘000 However, rice is still an important source of
tons) and Year-on-year Percentage Share, carbohydrate for most Malaysians as the
e
2016-2020 ne consumption per capita of rice is still high.
Production of Paddy ('000 Tonnes)
Production of Rice ('000 Tonnes)
2,927.9
2,639.2 +24.4% Self-sufficiency is defined as “needing no outside
2,739.6 2,570.5 +2.7%
Y-o-y: -6.2% 2,352.9 help in satisfying one’s basic needs, especially with
-10.8%
1,886.6
1,656.3 1,699.8 regard to the production of food”. The
1,766.1 1,516.3 +24.4%
Y-o-y: -6.2% +2.6%
-10.8% self-sufficiency status of a food item can be
measured using the SSL, also known as the
self-sufficiency level. The SSL is calculated from the
total domestic production divided by total available

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020e supply which measured in percentage.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia

Malaysia’s rice SSL recorded the highest in 2016 at
Lowest Rice Consumption Per Capita and 70.3 per cent, and it started to decline afterwards.
Self-Sufficiency Level in 2019 Malaysia has recorded 63.0 per cent of rice’s
self-sufficiency level in 2019, which was the lowest

Rice consumption per capita is the estimated recorded within the six years. Malaysia produced
amount of rice consumed per person. Starting 2014, about 60 to 70 per cent of rice it needs to support
Malaysia’s rice consumption per capita showed itself within those years, while the rest was imported.
declining trend within six years.
CONCLUSION
Malaysians consumed 87.9 kg of rice per person per
year in 2014 which is the highest within the years, Malaysia’s dependency on rice imports to meet the
and the trend has hovered below 80 kg/year since demand of its population has always been a cause

2016. Yet, consumption per capita of rice has for concern. Based on the Eleventh Malaysia Plan
recorded the lowest level in 2019 at 73.9 kg/year (2016-2020), Malaysia government has targeted
(Chart 9). SSL of rice to 100 per cent. Thus, the current SSL
reported was still low. To realize the target to
Chart 9: Rice Consumption Per Capita (kg/
year) and Self-Sufficiency Level (%), increase Malaysia’s paddy production and reducing
2014-2019 its dependency on imported rice, modernization of
87.9 87.5 Per Capita Consumption (Kg/Year) agriculture was among the focus of the 2021
79.5
74.4 76.5 73.9 Budget.

68 70.3 70 69 A total of RM1.7 billion has been allocated in the
64.8 63
form of subsidies, assistance and incentives, that
Self-Sufficiency Level (%)
will benefit paddy farmers all over Malaysia.
Subsequently, the assistance should promote the
production of paddy and decrease the dependency

on rice imports.
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries
Malaysia.

Malaysia Trade Statistic Review Volume I 2021 I Page 35