Rice is an important staple food in Malaysia. As of 2024, people in the country consumed approximately ***** million metric tons of rice. This was a slight increase compared to the total consumption in the previous year. Overall, rice consumption in Malaysia has been increasing. Rice imports to supply domestic demands Despite the significance of rice in the everyday lives of Malaysians, the production volume of rice in Malaysia has been decreasing in the past few years, and it is not enough to meet the local demands. In 2023, the Southeast Asian country produced around **** million metric tons of rice, less than half of the annual consumption in the same year. As a result, the value of import of rice increased to more than ***** billion Malaysian ringgit from 2022 to 2023. Decrease in planted area One of the reasons for decreased rice production volume could be attributed to the loss of planted areas of paddy in Malaysia. From approximately ******* hectares in 2018, the panted area went down to around ******* hectares in 2022. With a steady increase in rice demands, Malaysia would have to increase its rice production or import more from other rice-producing countries.

In 2023, Malaysia produced approximately **** million metric tons of rice, a decrease of around ******* metric tons compared to the production volume in the previous year. Rice is a staple food among Malaysians and one of the most important food crops in the country. Rice imports to meet the local demands The current production volume of rice is still unable to satisfy the demands of the staple food in the Malaysian market. The consumption of rice in Malaysia reached around ***** million metric tons in 2023. Around ** percent of the market demand is supplied with rice imported from other countries.The country’s dependency on imported rice could be detrimental to its food security, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and volatile global politics that could disrupt the supply chains. The Malaysian government is planning to increase local rice production and supply ** percent of the country’s total consumption by 2025. Ensuring the welfare of rice farmers The average monthly salary of workers in the agriculture sector in Malaysia was around ***** Malaysian ringgit, hardly above the current minimum wage of 1,500 Malaysian ringgit per month. Increasing the production of rice would be a challenge without ensuring the welfare of the farmers.In December 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security announced that they had allocated 10 million Malaysian ringgit to assist rice farmers in the country. Although it is too early to tell, it is hoped that the additional financial support will be enough to support the growth in rice production.

According to a survey on plant-based food consumption in Malaysia by Rakuten Insight, ** percent of the respondents claimed that they have tried plant-based milk alternatives such as soy, rice, almond, or oat milk. The second-most consumed plant-based food products were meat alternatives, with ** percent of respondents having consumed such products.

According to a survey on plant-based food consumption in Malaysia by Rakuten Insight, ** percent of female and ** percent of male respondents claimed that they have tried plant-based milk alternatives such as soy, rice, almond, or oat milk. In comparison, around half of respondents from both genders stated they have tried plant-based dairy product substitutes, such as vegan ice cream.

In 2024, the sales value of milled rice in Malaysia was approximately *********** Malaysian ringgit, an increase compared to the previous year. Milled rice is rice that has had the husk and the bran layers removed, producing an edible, white rice kernel that is often consumed.

According to a survey on plant-based food consumption in Malaysia by Rakuten Insight, over ** percent of respondents of all age groups claimed that they have tried plant-based milk alternatives such as soy, rice, almond, or oat milk. For people aged 16 to 24 years, meat alternatives were the second most consumed plant-based food item, with ** percent having consumed them.