Rice Year 1969

Stamps in the Series

 First Day Cover
 

Rice is the most important and the largest single dietary item consumed by most Malaysians. From a study made in 1960 of the per capita consumption of major foods, it was found that rice constitutes, on the average, 40% of the total food consumption by Malaysians. It can therefore be said that rice is of prime importance to Malaysia and achieving self-sufficiency in rice is of great importance to this nation.

In view of the above, the government has launched the National Rice Year Campaign with the following objectives:

1. To focus public attention on the critical situation of world food supply which has a direct bearing on food supply of Malaysia particularly in rice.
2. To create public consciousness and public support in whatever form towards increasing production of rice in this country.
3. To develop a consciousness to the need for prevention of wastage of available rice and to promote the conservation of rice at all stages of production.
4. To consolidate all efforts within the country towards increasing rice production and effective conservation to meet national self-sufficiency as early as possible.
5. To boost up the position of the rice industry to one of the three main industries in the country and to make rice growing a profitable economic concern.

The national rice campaign is in line with the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives which includes:

1. Efforts to increase the supply of essential foodstuffs to the level of self-sufficiency in so far as this is economically feasible and possible.
2. Measures to improve productively and living standards of the rural population through greater employment opportunities within the farm sector, by more intensive use of the land.

The demand for rice in Malaysia is increasing year by year due to the fact that the population of Malaysia is increasing a rapid rate of 3% per annum. The total consumption of rice for 1968 in West Malaysia was 911,123 tons. In West Malaysia in 1968 the acreage under wet padi as the main crop was 806,940 acres while 156,950 acres was under the off season crop and the total production from this acreage was 672,680 tons about 74% of the Nation's requirement. 

The present policy of the Government is to try and achieve self-sufficiency in rice in the near future in rice in the near future and if possible to produce for export.

The Government is taking a number of steps to increase the production of rice in this country. Most important of these are schemes for irrigation of which the Muda Scheme will provide irrigation facilities for about 261,000 acres. The Kemubu Scheme will irrigate 50,000 acres. Both these schemes are being financed by a loan from the World Bank. In addition to these there already exist various areas where irrigation provides for double cropping, most important of these being the Tanjong Karang Scheme, Trans-Perak Scheme, Sungei Manik Scheme and many others.

With the new varieties that are systematically being introduced there is no doubt that the income of the farmers depending on paddy numbering over 250,000 families will increase substantially. 

But the provision of irrigation water will not necessarily mean that all farmers will cultivate two crops per year. Several complementary measures will have to be undertaken simultaneously. These include apart from the proper control of water, availability of farm inputs, provision of timely credit at reasonable costs, proper extension services, a good transportation network and proper marketing arrangements. The Government has taken steps to assure that the complementary measures will be present and farmers utilize the water as soon as it is made available

Other steps taken by the Government to promote increased production of rice are the establishment of a Rice Research Unit in Province Wellesley, Padi Fertilizer Subsidy Scheme, the Guaranteed Minimum Price Programme, Padi Cultivators (Control of Rent and Security of Tenure Act of 1967) and the establishment of the Padi Marketing Board. With the current interest taken by the Government of Malaysia to promote increased production of rice, Malaysia is well on the road to achieving self-sufficiency of rice in the near future.

To highlight the National Rice Year Campaign 1969/70, this commemorative postage stamp is being issued. It is prepared especially for this occasion by Malaysia's foremost artist Enche Hoessein Enas. The Stamp depicts a peasant girl with her arms laden with golden sheaves of ripe padi. 

Technical Details

Commemorative postage stamps of the 15 cents and 75 cents denominations to mark the Rice Year 1969 will be issued on 8th December, 1969.

Date: 1969-12-08

Size:

Rectangular with the following dimensions perforation to perforation in sheets of 100:

15 cents - Vertical - 42 mm, Horizontal - 33 mm.

75 cents - Vertical - 42 mm, Horizontal - 33 mm.

Printing Process: Photogravure

Design:

The design, which is common to both denominations, features a painting of a peasant girl with her arms laden with golden sheaves of ripe padi, with a silver border for the 15 cents stamp and a gold border for the 75 cents stamp.

Artist: Enche Mohd. Hoessein bin Enas

Colour: The tow stamps are in multi-colour

Paper: PTM watermarked paper

Printed by: Messrs. Harrison & Sons Ltd. England.

Period of Sale: Until stocks are exhausted.