Resolve padi seed price issue, minister tells agencies

KUALA LUMPUR: Several agencies and manufacturers of legal padi seeds (BPS) have been directed to immediately resolve complaints related to the delay in the supply and sales of BPS that exceeded the price set by the government, says the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.Its minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu (pic), said the agencies include the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada), Padi and Rice Regulatory Board, Agriculture Department and Regional Farmers’ Organisation.

He said the directive was issued following complaints from several farmers and padi farmers’ organisations on the issue.

He added that he had gone to the field on Tuesday to monitor and check two factories that hold permits to produce BPS in Kedah.

“The inspections have identified several issues causing BPS supply disruptions now.

“The BPS manufacturer has also given a commitment to supply BPS with immediate effect to Mada.

“For areas outside Mada’s supervision, I have ordered inspections and enforcement to be enhanced,” he said in a statement here yesterday, as reported by Bernama.Mohamad said strict action must be taken against any party that fails to comply with the instructions to sell padi seeds at RM45 per 20kg bag.

He hopes that all parties involved will cooperate so that all issues can be resolved immediately to ensure rice-planting can proceed without delay.

The Star has on Nov 11 frontpaged a report that said that in five months, the country may face a severe shortage of local white rice due to unpredictable weather and the overpricing of padi seeds.

The erratic weather, said to be the result of climate change, has also concerned padi farmers even though they have switched to a schedule that would allow them to harvest five times – instead of four – every two years.

A shortage in the supply of padi seeds is also believed to have caused prices to rise sharply.