PUTRAJAYA: Padi farmers are hoping that the memorandum accepted by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will lead to better livelihoods for farmers nationwide.They are seeking to raise the padi floor price from RM1,300 per tonne to RM1,800 and scrap the proposed Quality Crop Seed Bill.
Malaysia Padi Farmers Brotherhood Association (PeSawah) chairman Abdul Rashid Yob, who led seven buses of farmers to Putrajaya yesterday, said the Prime Minister’s political secretary Chan Ming Kai accepted the memorandum on behalf of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, in a short text to the media, said he will take responsibility and deal with the farmers.
According to Abdul Rashid, the padi floor price has been set at RM1,300 since 2023.
“That price is too low as the targeted diesel subsidy last June has led to a higher cost for all other services and machinery.
“As a result, we have to bear 55% of the increase in costs.
“We urge the government to raise the padi floor price from RM1,300 per tonne to RM1,800.
“The cost of padi seeds has also increased twice since 2023,” said Abdul Rashid, adding that land rental, pesticides and wage costs have also increased.
“We also oppose the Crop Seed Quality Bill as it was drafted without consultation with farmers. It requires individuals processing and distributing seeds to obtain licences and submit seed samples for laboratory testing,” he said.
Abdul Rashid said 30% of farmers have started processing and selling seeds from their fields to save costs and earn additional income on a small scale.
He said this is due to the rising costs of farming, frequent delays in seed supply and the deterioration in the quality of certified padi seeds in recent years.
Earlier, hundreds of farmers gathered at the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry here after being told to move from the PMO by the police.
A few leaders later proceeded to the Perdana Putra building to submit a memorandum to the PMO.
Farmer Ku Syaharil Ku Desa, 54, from Kuala Muda, Kedah, said he is making losses with the current floor price at RM1,300.
“Our hopes are so high on the Prime Minister as he had once championed the plight of poor farmers in Baling in 1974,” said Ku Syaharil.
