MEDIA STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
BERNAS Supports The Government's Agenda To Transform And Strengthen The Local Rice And Paddy Industry
Shah Alam, 15 September 2024 – Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) welcomes the announcement made yesterday by the Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, regarding efforts to transform the agricultural sector with an estimated allocation of RM5 billion.
The investment measures undertaken by the government are set to revolutionise and further boost the nation's paddy and rice industry. These efforts aim to increase local rice production and, in turn, improve farmers' livelihoods.
This timely announcement complements BERNAS' ongoing efforts as one of the key players driving the implementation of the Large-Scale Paddy Field (SMART SBB) programme to advance and develop the local paddy and rice industry.
In line with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security's (MAFS) efforts to drive the productivity of the national paddy sector, BERNAS, through the SMART SBB programme, has been adopting the use of IoT and modern mechanization. Additionally, BERNAS is developing a farm management system to monitor large-scale paddy fields more efficiently, which is further supported by an early detection system for paddy diseases and infestations.
BERNAS remains committed to fulfilling its social obligations to ensure national food security while also being open to collaborating with all stakeholders to maintain the stability and availability of rice supplies for Malaysians.
This announcement will boost local paddy and rice production, drive growth and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, potentially attracting the younger generation to be involved in the agriculture industry.
About BERNAS
BERNAS was established in 1994 when it took over the role of Lembaga Padi dan Beras Negara (LPN) as the custodian of Malaysian paddy and rice after LPN was corporatized. For more than three decades, BERNAS has been a key player in Malaysia's paddy and rice industry and is recognized as a reliable partner for food security and sustainability.
Our longstanding slogan, "Nourishing the Nation," reflects our values and commitment to providing the best products and services to our country. We embrace our shared core values of Integrity, Customer Focus, and Teamwork, and strive to fulfil our obligations with full dedication, while also balancing the requirements of all stakeholders and upholding the highest standards of quality across our supply
chain.