Any new ceiling price for local white rice to be discussed
KUALA LUMPUR: Any proposal to raise the ceiling price of local white rice will ensure fairness to all parties – farmers, producers, traders and consumers, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said the current price of RM26 per 10kg had not been changed since 2008.
“If there is any increase, we will have to discuss with the Economy Ministry, Finance Ministry as well as the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry on how we can be fair to all parties, including the government and those in the Opposition, who are also involved in this matter,” he said in a supplementary question from Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap) during Question Time in Parliament yesterday.
Nurul Amin asked the ministry whether the proposed increase in the price ceiling of local white rice would be done in stages considering the high cost of living faced by the people.
Mohamad said that if the proposal was accepted, there was still a need for a comprehensive discussion with the Economy Ministry on the impact of such changes on the people as well as rice producers.
“Surely, the Finance Ministry will also be consulted. An intensive discussion is currently being made to get all the feedback including from MPs, especially those who are from areas that have padi plantations,” he said.
In recent months, there have been calls for the government to increase the ceiling price for local white rice.
Easy-peasy: A farmer harvesting padi with a rice harvester machine in Sekinchan. — Bernama
The government is also looking to form a national stockpile for certified padi seeds to address market shortages.
Mohamad said in the long term, the government was thinking of building a national stockpile similar to the one for rice stock.
“We are planning to build a similar one with at least 500,000 bags of padi seeds in case anything happens.
“Currently we don’t have one and this is for the future,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin Fakhrurazi (PN-Kuala Kedah).
Ahmad Fakhruddin asked the ministry on the type of enforcement to be carried out by the authorities to ensure there was no manipulation on the price of certified padi seeds so that farmers will have access to the seeds based on the government-controlled price.
Several measures have also been taken by the ministry to ensure an adequate supply including the approval of 532,325 sacks of certified padi seeds for use in Kedah and Perlis.
A total of 112,260 bags of padi seeds were produced on Nov 10, compared to 79,142 on Nov 3 and 151,200 bags on Oct 26, he said.
The government is also expected to approve the production of 50,000 bags of padi seeds today in which 31,000 bags will be distributed to Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) and the remaining ones sent to Perlis and Kedah.
Other moves include the formation of a task force to ensure that all retailers sell padi seeds at the prices set by the government and there will be no hoarding of certified rice seeds.
As of Nov 7, Mohamad said a total of 20 licences had been revoked, while another two licences were revoked yesterday.
