ALOR STAR: The Padi and Rice Regulatory Board has brushed off the claims by Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation (Pesawah) on alleged hoarding of certified padi seeds by producers and suppliers.
Kedah Padi and Rice Regulatory Board director Mohamad Nornizam Ramly said the certified padi seeds held by suppliers were awaiting approval by the Agricultural Department.
He added that the seeds were being kept in storage until they receive laboratory testing and subsidy approval before being shipped to local Farmer's Area Organisations (PPK).
"Padi seed suppliers are preserving seeds to be sampled by the agricultural department for laboratory testing and to obtain subsidy approval.
"Therefore, the seeds must be stored in the mills for now. There are also less popular variants of seeds being stored in these mills," he said when contacted.
Nornizam also clarified that padi seeds sold in the 'black market' above the RM45 ceiling price for 20 kilogramme packets set by the government were not certified padi seeds subsidised by the government, as claimed by padi farmers.
He said that the board has no authority to regulate the sale of the non-subsidised seeds.
"Majority of black market sales involve non-subsidised and uncertified padi seeds, thus we have no authority to regulate the sales," he added.
Nornizam assured that stern measures will be taken against suppliers found hoarding certified padi seeds.
"Hoarding certified padi seeds is an offence that can be investigated under Section 17 of the Padi and Rice Control Act 1994.
"Should the board receive any detailed information about the sale of certified rice seeds in the black market, we will conduct a raid," he added.
On Oct 24, Pesawah called on the government to investigate alleged certified padi seed hoarding activities which might derail the padi cultivation cycle.
Pesawah executive council member Abdul Rashid Yob reportedly said the farners were forced to pay above the RM45 ceiling price for 20kg packaging of padi seeds in the black market since local Farmers' Area Organisations were struggling to obtain the supply.
Rashid also called upon the Padi and Rice Regulatory Board to investigate why the Farmers' Area Organisations were unable to acquire padi seeds supply, while the seeds were seemingly abundant in shops.
Meanwhile, Nornizam said certified padi seeds supplies were being gradually provided to local Farmer's Area Organisations based on laboratory approvals and ministry quotas.
"Padi farmers in Kedah and Perlis can also obtain certified padi seed supplies from licensed agents in the states," he added.