GOVT CONFIDENT OF ACHIEVING 80 PER CENT RICE SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia should be able to achieve 80 per
cent rice self-sufficiency by 2010 based on the positive results of government
efforts like the provision of incentives and subsidies, and implementation of
mini estate and cluster projects.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar said the '10 tonnes of
padi per hectare" project also had positive results, with the project now
covering 85,081 hectares involving 24,600 farmers nationwide and overall
increase in padi production by 26.55 per cent.

"With all the initiatives undertakan, the government is confident that the
country will achieve 80 per cent self-sufficiency in rice by 2010," he said in
the Lower House of Parliament Tuesday in reply to a question from a Member of
Parliament (MP).

However, he added, at the moment the government had not set a target for 100
per cent rice self-sufficiency.

"The government has to be realistic about setting the target as more areas
would have to be opened up for padi growing and this will involve a high cost
for the government to bear."

Noh said the government had also given a big allocation of RM3.5 billion
(US$1.03 billion) for 2008 to 2010 to implement the '10 tonnes per hectare of
paddy' project (better known as the 10-Tonne Padi Project), which included
improving the irrigation system in the integrated agricultural development areas
(Kada).

He said the poverty percentage in the Kada areas had also been reduced, with
only one per cent making up the hardcore poor, hence indicating the
effectiveness of the government programmes in improving the lot of the people.

Noh said before Kada came into existence, the poverty rate was 75 per cent
and the padi production was only at 3.5 tonnes per year in these areas, but now
it had increased to 10 tonnes for two planting seasons in a year.
-- BERNAMA