JOHOR BARU, Malaysia - Malaysia will able to export rice when the new padi cultivation areas in Sabah and Sarawak produce the crop within the next two years.

Infrastructure work on the 12,140ha in Kota Belud and 16,187ha in Setumbin-Bijat padi cultivation areas has already started, said Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim.

"The country will be able to export the rice from the new padi hybrid that produces six tonnes of rice per hectare.

"Also, more Malaysians, especially the younger people, are reducing rice intake in their diet," she said.

The additional rice production from Sabah and Sarawak would reduce dependency on traditional sources such as Thailand and Vietnam.

At present, Malaysia imports 30% of its rice. Under the National Guarantee Supply Policy 2008-2010, the country can be considered self-sufficient if it can produce 86% of its needs.

"However, the Government wants to bring the figure down to 80% by 2010," Rohani said in a press conference here on Wednesday.

She added the Government lowered the target from 86% to 80% due to several factors - such as the hike in the crude oil prices last year and less land available in the peninsula for rice cultivation.

THE STAR / ASIA NEWS NETWORK