ALOR STAR: The Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation (Pesawah) has called on the government to investigate alleged certified padi seeds hoarding activities which might derail the new padi cultivation cycle.
Pesawah executive council member Abdul Rashid Yob lamented that the farmers are forced to pay above the RM45 ceiling price for 20kg packaging of padi seeds in the black market since local Farmers' Area Organisations (PPKs) are struggling to obtain the supply.
"Suppliers claimed they are waiting for approvals from the Agriculture Department to release the certified padi seeds.
"However, when we communicated with the Agriculture Department, we were informed that supply of padi seeds have already been approved.
"Hence, we suspect the padi seeds producers are hoarding the supply. Strangely enough, the supply is available in the black market at RM55 and more per packet, way more expensive than the RM45 ceiling price set by the government," he told the New Straits Times when contacted today.
Rashid said it is baffling that local PPKs are unable to acquire padi seeds supply, while the seeds are seemingly abundant in pesticide shops.
Hence, Pesawah called upon the Padi and Rice Regulatory Board to investigate the matter.
"The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has already issued directives to the millers. Regrettably, these directives are not being adhered to. They are quite stubborn.
"The authorities must be more proactive in ensuring there is no foul play in the padi industry supply chain," he added.
It was reported recently that padi farmers were complaining of difficulties in obtaining padi seeds based on the ceiling price set by the government as they are entering a new planting cycle by the end of this month.
The farmers claimed that while it was difficult to obtain the supply of padi seeds approved by the Agriculture Department, it could easily be sold through the 'black market' at higher prices of up to over RM60 per 20kg bag.
As a result, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry set the certified padi seed ceiling price to RM40 from RM31 per 20kg bag for wholesale buys and RM45 from the previous RM35 for retail sales.
The New Straits Times has contacted the state Padi and Rice Regulatory Board director Abdul Rahman Tajudin, who has agreed to comment on the matter soon.
Rashid expressed his concern that the situation might affect the country's rice supply security.
"We are also concerned about climate change. In the past, we would have finished cultivating padi by December.
"The padi yields are decreasing and we may not be able to provide an adequate food supply for the country," he added.