KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 — A total of 50,000 bags of certified padi seeds (BPS) will be approved tomorrow, with 31,000 allocated to Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) Area Farmers’ Organisation (PPK) and the remaining 19,000 to be distributed to Perlis and outside the rice belt of Kedah.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister (KPKM) Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said this is one of the drastic short-term measures taken by the ministry to ensure an adequate supply of BPS and to control prices.
He said the ministry had earlier approved 532,325 bags of BPS for use in Kedah and Perlis, with a production record of 89,723 bags of seeds on Oct 18, 151,200 bags (Oct 26), 79,142 bags (Nov 3) and 112,260 bags on Nov 10.
“In addition, KPKM has also been monitoring and controlling the approval and laboratory processes for 12 BPS producers according to the standard operating procedures set by the departments and agencies before they are sold to farmers,” he said during the Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a question from Kuala Kedah assemblyman Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin Fakhrurazi on the immediate measures taken by KPKM to address the issue on the sale of BPS which is taking a toll on farmers and affecting rice production as well as the country’s rice self-sufficiency rate (SSR).
According to the minister the current demand for BPS is 72,000 tonnes or 3.6 million bags per year, with farmers enjoying an incentive of RM1.03 for every kg of BPS purchased from government-appointed producers.
As for long-term measures Mohamad said the government will conduct a study to address the purchase prices of padi and padi seeds to ensure a win-win situation for all parties, including retailers and consumers.
For this purpose, he said KPKM will hold discussions with the Economy Ministry, Finance Ministry and Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry (KPDN) soon, to determine aspects of price coordination.
During the question and answer session, Mohamad said the government is considering to raise the ceiling price of local white rice to address the issue of rice supply in the country.
“Indeed the RM26 price for local white rice has been in place since 2008. If there is to be an increase in the ceiling price, we need to discuss it with the ministries involved.
“The discussion will be chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and we will also get the views of members of Parliament involved in the padi cultivation areas,” he said in response to a supplementary question from Padang Terap assemblyman Nurul Amin Hamid on the government’s readiness to raise the ceiling price of local white rice.
— Bernama
