The Agro-Food Takaful Insurance Scheme will be launched through the agriculture and food industries ministry and will initially be offered to 189,500 rice farmers, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

The insurance cover will be expanded in stages to other sectors, including fisheries, he said at the launch of the 2022 Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agro Tourism Exhibition today.

Malaysia, a net food importer, is taking steps to enhance domestic supplies of grains and poultry as nations around the world battle rising food costs amid disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Malaysia remains among countries without crop insurance, unlike its neighbours, including China and Indonesia, state news agency Bernama reported in July, citing agriculture and food industries minister Ronald Kiandee.