Malaysia will spend 778 million dollars this year to increase food production.

Agriculture Minister Mustapa Mohamed says the money would be spent on increasing rice farming and raising buffer stocks of the grain to match growing local demand.

Malaysia has a sufficient stockpile of food, but Mr Mustapha says with the continuous rise in global food prices, the government is implementing the National Policy on Food Security.

Incentives to boost food production would begin from June.

The government aims to increase the rice buffer stock to ensure a three-month supply of the grain.

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