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New Straits Times

Malaysia to launch National Seed Council to boost agricultural resilience

PASIR SALAK: Malaysia is set to launch a National Seed Council in a strategic move to strengthen the country's agricultural resilience and reduce its dependence on foreign seed sources. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the council is currently in its final stages of evaluation and is expected to be launched soon. "At the ministry level, we have established the National Seed Council, which will be launched soon. It is currently in the final review stage before its official launch," he said. He spoke to reporters after launching the new Clearfield rice varieties CL3 and CL4 at the Felcra Seberang Perak here, today. Also present were ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, Mardi board chairman Dr Azman Ismail and state Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun. Highlighting the importance of seed sovereignty, Mohamad said there was a need to prevent the monopolisation of seeds by powerful corporations or foreign nations. "Seeds are a critical component of food production. We do not want them to be monopolised by certain companies or countries. "Let seed management be conducted in an orderly manner. With the establishment of the National Seed Board, we will be able to regulate all types of seeds, whether for plants or livestock within Malaysia," he said. When asked whether all research will be conducted at the centre, Mohamad said it will serve primarily as a strategic seed repository. "The paddy seed center will act as a repository for all the seed varieties we have in the country. If anything happens, we will have a reserve to reproduce those seeds in the future," he said. On a separate matter, Mohamad said the allocation of additional rice supply quotas to millers would be based on the capacity of the respective mills. He said that if millers are capable of processing a higher volume of paddy, the ministry would make efforts to assist in increasing their rice supply quotas. "The quota depends on capacity. If we see that a Bumiputera-owned mill has the capability, we will try to assist. "If it lacks any capacity at all, then it's quite difficult. We can't rely solely on quotas, both quota and capacity must be considered. That's what matters most, and the government is always ready to help," he said. He was commenting on a statement made by Zolkafly on Wednesday, in which the latter had said the state government would be applying to the ministry to increase the quota, especially for Bumiputera millers. Zolkafly had said the move was crucial to ensure that both large and small millers can collaborate in revitalising the rice industry and maintaining a stable and sufficient rice supply.