GEORGE TOWN: With effect from the current padi planting season, the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) has been appointed as the sole distributor for the Certified Paddy Seed Incentive programme to end the problem of quality seeds and high prices that have existed for over 20 years.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi said he was aware of complaints by farmers on the high prices of seeds following claims that they were being monopolised by certain quarters although they were of poorer quality.
"As such, the government has decided that beginning the current paddy planting season this month, Nafas will provide the seeds directly to the farmers.
"The government is hopeful that this will solve the problems faced by the farmers all this while," he told newsmen here today.
Che Abdullah was met after a working visit to the Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP)'s urban farming here this afternoon.
Nafas will be selling a pack of 20kg seeds for RM35. At present, some 11 companies are distributing the seeds.
Elaborating, Che Abdullah said Nafas was a government entity with no personal interests, and as such, would be able to carry out the responsibility given to the best of its ability.
In November last year, the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry appointed Nafas as the sole wholesaler under the programme to supply seedlings directly to farmers.
Nafas had also been entrusted to handle the distribution of certified paddy seeds as it possessed an efficient distribution chain through 145 centres in the peninsula.
Meanwhile, Che Abdullah said response for the Kebuniti project has been overwhelming, where a total of 42,370 applications were received.
A total of RM7.32 million was spent last year, benefitting some 13,524 individuals and 632 communities.
"In the second phase this year, the Agriculture Department has set aside RM21.18 million for the project, which is expected to benefit 27,524 individuals and 1,046 communities," he added.
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