Protecting the rice bowl: A worker checking and monitoring a padi field at Paddy NMR 152 Project Research Side, Sekinchan. Sekinchan is one of Malaysia’s key padi-growing areas, known for its high seasonal yields. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PADI farmers have long been dissatisfied with the quality of fertiliser supplied to them.
“It’s of low quality, and we’re forced to use it because we have no other option,” said a padi farmer from Kuala Selangor who requested anonymity.
He added that the fertiliser has shown little to no improvement in crop yield.
“Hopefully, we will get some quality stuff now,’’ he said, responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Budget 2025 announcement.
Anwar said the government will embark on a pilot project to source fertiliser, including organic options, through open tender.
The Prime Minister also announced an allocation of RM65mil to improve the irrigation and drainage of padi granaries and expand Felcra estates in Sabah and Sarawak.
When asked about the farmers’ complaints, Sekinchan assemblyman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said the primary concern was the poor quality of fertiliser, which farmers claim has led to lower rice yields.
“Farmers are frustrated because the fertiliser doesn’t meet their needs,” Ng said. “Now that the Prime Minister has announced an open tender, suppliers must ensure their products are well-researched and of high quality.”
Sekinchan is one of Malaysia’s key padi-growing areas, known for its high seasonal yields.
However, Dr Noraziyah Abd Aziz, who is with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, said that just because the fertiliser will now be obtained through open tender, it should not mean that any company offering a competitive price is given the business.
“They must set up a committee which also includes researchers to scrutinise and review the products before endorsing them.
“The suppliers must have conducted extensive research in Malaysia for at least two planting seasons before producing and marketing their fertiliser,’’ said Dr Noraziyah.
On the allocation for drainage and irrigation, she added the authorities must also set up irrigation systems in padi fields located outside non-granary areas to boost production.
Dr Mohd Ikmal Asmuni, who is also with UKM’s Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, highlighted the importance of systems to extract excess water from fields.
“We currently have good systems to flow water into padi fields.
“But during heavy rains, flooding can occur, and in some areas, padi plants die from the water surge,’’ he said.
