KUALA LUMPUR: Farmers in several northern states are in a quandary as they have yet to receive distribution of more than 20,000 tonnes of fertiliser from the troubled National Farmers' Organisation (Nafas) Parliament was told.
The issue was raised by Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) who said that farmers in six states including the Farmers Organisation Authority have yet to get their subsidised fertilisers.
"Farmers in Kelantan, Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak are still waiting for their fertiliser from Nafas.
"For example, there are still more than 4,000 tonnes of fertiliser yet to be distributed in Kelantan, 8,000 tonnes in Kedah, 9,100 in Perlis and LPP 1,800 tonnes.
"If you look at the current Nafas management, they should show a more action-driven and efficient attitude," he said when raising the issue during Question and Answer Time in Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Feb 5).
Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) noted that it would take some time for the proposed improvements to Nafas to be implemented.
"The implementation of the eight strategies to improve Nafas may take some time.
"On what was raised by Beluran (Kiandee) on the distribution of fertilisers, what are the short term measures are being taken to address the delay?" he asked.
Agriculture and Food Security Deputy Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup acknowledged that Nafas has been over-reliant on the business of distributing subsidised fertilisers from the government.
"But at the same time, they have not been able to carry out the work well, particularly over the last three years," he said.
He noted that Nafas's constitution was suspended three times since its establishment.
"This is not the first time for Nafas's constitution as it happened in 1985, 2018 and the latest in 2024.
"There are ongoing efforts to improve this process to ensure that Nafas's operations will reach the targeted group," he said in response to Kiandee's question.
On Chin's suggestion, Kurup said that an extension of time has been given to Nafas to complete the distribution of the subsidised fertilisers to the affected states.
Earlier, Kurup said that informed the House that an eight-point strategy is being implemented to improve Nafas's operations.
Among the strategies is the setting up of an independent committee to review Nafas's business plan over the next five years.
"The efforts include the forced merger or winding up of any of its subsidiaries companies which are non-functioning or inactive," he said.
Other measures, he said, were the restructuring of Nafas's personnel including controlling and limiting their authority.
On Jan 28, a former Nafas officer claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to two counts of receiving bribes totalling about RM1.32mil (USD300,000) from a Singaporean fertiliser supplier company.
