Seed strategy bolsters supply

Planting season: The activity of sowing rice seeds is vigorous as it is when the rice planting season begins in Kedah and Perlis, and with the price of rice seeds surging, the burden on farmers is intensified. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA: The surge in padi seed prices is not only a huge burden on farmers, but may potentially affect supply in the near future. A move to have seeds reach farmers directly is the solution.

Legal padi seeds are to be sold directly to the Regional Farmers’ Organisation (Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan or PPK) and rice farmers from Oct 11, based on a directive by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.

The order was issued to ensure sufficient supply for the padi planting season, said Datuk Chan Foong Hin.

The Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister also said the approval process for 12 legal rice seed producers has been put in place, in accordance with the standard operating procedure, before the seeds reach the farmers.“A further boost came with the approval of an additional quota of 112,260 seed trowels of 20kg on Nov 10, specifically for Kedah and Perlis,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

The ministry also seeks to guarantee reasonable pricing for rice seeds, setting a maximum selling price of RM40 per 20kg seed trowels at the producing company and RM45 at the retail price, he added.

“This move is aimed at countering potential price manipulation,” he said.

Chan’s statement came following media reports of the difficulties encountered by local padi farmers, which include erratic weather and a shortage in the supply of padi seeds, causing their price to shoot up.

All this may hamper the farmers’ efforts to increase harvest to five times instead of four every two years.

He said in a move towards greater transparency, legal rice seeds, specifically the CL220 variety, that are packaged with specific pesticides, must now be sold separately.

The price for this variety has been set at the same maximum levels.

“Monitoring and enforcement are constantly being prioritised to ensure price compliance,” he said.

He added that 20 retailers selling legal rice seeds (BPS) above the price set by the government had been identified and their licences were immediately revoked.Under the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994, the ministry holds the power to cancel or suspend the licences of any parties found in breach of the rules.

Chan said the ministry considers all submitted complaints seriously and is working hard to ensure the supply and price of legal rice seeds remain reasonable and sustainable.

The required annual supply of legal rice seeds is 72,000 tonnes or 3.6 million seed trowels.