SABAK BERNAM: Local researchers have been urged to come forward to showcase their research and development (R&D), and drive innovation in the agro-food industry.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said researchers in various fields of expertise should mobilise their efforts for the development of agro-food innovation to drive the nation towards becoming a high-income nation, thus improving the living standards of Malaysians.
"The government always ensures that efforts to increase productivity in the paddy and rice industry is done proactively, including introducing latest technology to face challenges and further strengthen capabilities.
"However, this responsibility cannot be placed on the shoulders of the government and farmers alone, it requires joint efforts, (in the spirit of) inclusiveness and togetherness which are the main thrusts of the Keluarga Malaysia concept."
He said this when launching a new paddy variety, dubbed IS21, developed by Nuclear Malaysia in Sekinchan here, today.
The IS21 paddy seed variety is highly resistant to unpredictable weather and also has resistance to several paddy diseases that often affect farmers.
Ismail Sabri said the new paddy variety also had the potential to give a high yield with a lower planting cost thus increasing the income of farmers if it is properly managed.
"IS21 can produce paddy up to nine tonnes per hectare, depending on the cultivation area.
"Planting costs can be reduced by 10 to 20 per cent due to less usage of fertilisers and pesticides.
"Yields can also increase by 40 to 67 per cent, depending on the cultivation area and the farmer's cultural practices."
This initiative by Nuclear Malaysia under the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry, he added, was one of the complementary efforts in improving the country's food security.
He said it was also in line with the government's intention to increase the country's self-sufficiency on rice, thus reducing the dependency on imported rice in the future.
The IS21 paddy seed had received recognition from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) during its 65th General Conference in Vienna, Austria, last September.
It was developed through gamma radiation-induced mutation methods, which is an alternative breeding technology to conventional methods, and has the producing agro-food crops with better characteristics.
These include resistance to sudden weather changes, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, as well rapid yield production and better nutrient quality.
Also present at the event were Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, Agriculture and Food Industries minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, and Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar.