Errant seed suppliers risk losing their licence, ministry warns

PETALING JAYA: Producers, wholesalers, and retailers may have their licence suspended if they are found selling certified rice seeds above the maximum price, says Datuk Azman Mahmood of the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.

The ministry’s Padi and Rice Regulatory Division director-general said 20 retailers selling legal rice seeds (BPS) above the government-set price of RM45 per 20kg pack had their licences immediately revoked, preventing them from selling rice seeds to farmers.

“The 20 retailers are from Kedah. It is the rice harvesting season now in Kedah, and next, we will progressively conduct enforcement actions nationwide.

“After the rice harvesting season in Kedah, it will be followed by Terengganu and Kelantan, and then Perak and Penang.”

He said the division would inspect 439 retailers nationwide, stressing that the current supply of certified rice seeds was sufficient.

Azman said rice seed production was conducted in stages to meet the needs of growing areas in the north, requiring about 900,000 seed combs for this second-season crop.

As of now, a total of 420,065 seed trowels have been approved for use in Kedah and Perlis, with production records of 89,723 seed trowels on Oct 18, 151,200 seed trowels on Oct 26, and 179,142 seed trowels on Nov 3 this year.