Consumers opt for local variety if Thai rice gets dearer

What say you on the issue below?

THE local flavour is good enough for Malaysian consumers who are not perturbed by a possible price increase of Thai rice.

Lots of choices: (from left)The family of Shahrizal Zainal Abidin, 34, Mohd Shahdarwisy Shahrizal, 2, Mohd Shahdanial, 4 and Fazilah Mohamed, 31, shopping for rice at Sunshine Square, Bayan Baru in Penang.

Jorsmani Budin, 27, said she had always preferred the less expensive locally-produced brands.

She buys a certain brand of local rice, which costs RM26 per 10kg bag during special promotions.

“A Thai brand costs the same for half the amount. You can also save by cooking just enough rice for the family. If there’s leftover, put it in the fridge and make fried rice the next day,” she suggested.

W.K. Yuen, 33, said local rice was a healthier option due to a lower starch content compared to imported fragrant rice.

Hamidah Udin, 60, said she was willing to pay more for Thai rice because of its taste and quality.

“Thai rice is soft and fragrant but costs RM6 per kilo. I mix it with local rice when cooking,” the housewife from Butterworth said.

Retired agriculture department rice agronomist and former Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) senior manager Phang Futt Khaw does not think the Thai rice price impact will burden consumers.

“The lower income group does not consume fragrant Thai rice,” he said.

Sunshine Wholesale Mart Sdn Bhd general manager Yee Kam Ming said the price of Thai fragrant rice had increased by 3% to 5%.

“However, we have sufficient rice stock so there is no need for hording. Prices for other rice remain stable,” he said.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar was recently reported as saying that imported rice was not controlled but he was confident that prices would stay the same.

The report said world rice price could rise to US$700 (RM2,200) per tonne next year because of floods, a 15% drop in production in South America and Thailand’s decision to sell unmilled grain at 15,000 baht (RM1,530) a tonne to boost their rural income.

Malaysia, which produces about 70% of local consumption, relies on imports from Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, all of which have been hit by tropical storms and floods in recent weeks.

The bulk of our imported rice comes from Vietnam (49%), followed by Thailand (33%), Pakistan (16%), and other countries (2%).

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Social Sciences senior lecturer Dr Saidatulakmal Mohd said the expected increase in the price of Thai rice would not affect its demand as rice is our daily staple.

“In the long run, you might see the demand for rice decreasing, not because of the rise in price per se but also because of other factors — health, for example.

“As rice is high in carbohydrate (which translates to being high in sugar), excessive consumption could lead to various health problems.”