ALOR SETAR: Delays in the supply of subsidised fertiliser, coupled with the nearly three-month vacancy in the chairman's post at the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada), are disrupting padi cultivation and piling pressure on farmers, reports the Kedah Darul Aman Information Secretariat.
The secretariat quoted Kota Siputeh assemblyman Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir, in an interview, saying that weaknesses in governance, particularly within the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, had prevented long-standing issues involving agricultural inputs from being resolved effectively.
Ashraf said that as of June 29, only 37,560 bags of Additional Paddy Compound Fertiliser 3 had been received, representing just six per cent of the total requirement of 616,015 bags.
Of that number, only 30,799 bags had been distributed, leaving an estimated shortfall of 160,000 bags.
He added that the supply of subsidised urea fertiliser was also delayed after the successful bidder failed to return the Letter of Acceptance within the stipulated period, forcing the appointment to be cancelled and a fresh tender process to be initiated.
Although the ministry had previously announced that urea fertiliser distribution would begin on July 15 and that supply issues in Mada areas would be resolved before July 30, Ashraf said complaints over delays and the quality of Additional Paddy Compound Fertiliser were still being received in early August.
"The situation raises questions over whether the promised solutions have actually reached farmers on the ground," he said.
Ashraf, who is also coordinator of the Farmers' Rights Movement (Gempita), said fertiliser application followed a strict schedule, with each type required at specific crop growth stages to ensure optimum yields.
He said compound fertiliser was applied during the early vegetative stage, followed by urea during the active tillering stage, before Additional Paddy Compound Fertiliser 3 was used during panicle formation and flowering.
According to Agriculture Department guidelines, compound fertiliser should be applied between 15 and 20 days after sowing, while urea is required around 25 to 40 days after sowing. Additional compound fertiliser is applied during panicle initiation and flowering, depending on the maturity period of the padi variety.
"Each stage has a specific application window. Delays at any stage will affect the entire growth cycle, including tiller development, panicle formation and grain filling," he said.
He warned that continued delays could lead to lower yields and income losses for farmers, despite the problems stemming from weaknesses in planning, procurement and coordination.
Ashraf urged the ministry to disclose the actual status of the receipt and distribution of all three subsidised fertiliser types by region and Area Farmers' Organisation (PPK), publish a clear delivery schedule, conduct an independent inspection into the quality of Additional Paddy Compound Fertiliser and take action against suppliers who failed to fulfil contractual obligations.
He also questioned the delay in appointing a new Mada chairman after the tenure of former chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh ended on May 14.
As of Aug 5, he said, the post had remained vacant for 83 days, with Mada's official portal still listing the position as unfilled.
"Mada is a key institution responsible for coordinating farmers' interests, irrigation systems, planting schedules and the overall development of the padi industry.
"At a time when farmers are facing water shortages, rising operating costs and delays in agricultural inputs, the ministry should ensure Mada has complete and effective strategic leadership," he said.
Ashraf called on the ministry to immediately appoint a new Mada chairman based on merit, experience and a sound understanding of farmers' realities, while urging the Prime Minister to treat the matter seriously.
"The Agriculture and Food Security Minister cannot continue to remain silent. Food security cannot be achieved through slogans alone. It requires competent leadership, swift action and genuine concern for farmers.
"Padi plants do not wait for bureaucracy. When the fertiliser application window is missed, it is the farmers who bear the losses, and ultimately the country's food supply is affected," he said.
