ALOR STAR: The Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation (Pesawah) has called for reform of the fertiliser supply distribution system in the country.
Its chairman, Abdul Rashid Yob, said fertiliser distribution should not be allocated to private companies, as is the case with certified padi seeds, to safeguard the interests of nearly a million farmers across the country.
"Look at what happened with certified padi seeds, where approximately 60 per cent of the quota was given to private firms, with only a small portion going to government-linked companies (GLCs).
"In the end, these private companies took the opportunity to maximise profits, with the padi farmers bearing the burden of the increased cost of certified padi seeds. If GLCs were in control, this wouldn't have happened as there would be oversight and audits in place," he said when contacted today.
Rashid said firm action from the government was needed to put an end to cartel practices, cautioning against awarding distribution tenders to private companies.
He also urged the government to review and ensure subsidised fertilisers were supplied on time, in line with the planting schedule set for farmers.
Rashid said this in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's call to halt the old practice involving fertiliser import cartels.
Anwar said decisions must be made based on facts and what benefited farmers, fishermen and small planters the most.
Rashid said the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) should also undergo reform or a leadership reshuffle to improve its governance.
"Nafas needs a capital injection to drive innovation in producing organic fertilisers, in addition to the standard fertilisers mandated by the government," he added.