KUALA LUMPUR: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has assured that it will beef up its enforcement efforts to combat the hoarding of paddy seeds in the market.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said stern actions will be taken against those found hoarding the paddy seeds. Mohamad said there have been arrests in 20 locations so far.
"Do not hoard the paddy seeds. We are warning you (those who are hoarding the seeds) and please cooperate."Regarding the increase of rice price and paddy seeds, we can negotiate it later. We should not resort to this (by hoarding paddy seeds), at the expense of others (the farmers).
"Now, we must encourage people (the farmers) to plant paddy, hence it must be expedited."We assure you that we will take the best possible action to ensure paddy can be planted this year, as scheduled," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (PN-Bukit Gantang).
Syed Abu Hussin asked about complaints from paddy farmers due to the unavailability of paddy seeds in the market, besides being sold at unregulated prices.Meanwhile, in a reply to the initial question from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka), Mohamad said the ministry is currently implementing all the plans under the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030 (DAN 2.0).
He said the ministry has outlined five strategies to be executed by the livestock sub-sector over the next 10 years under the policy."This includes enhancing sustainability and continuous growth in the poultry/duck industry; increasing the number of ruminant livestock; facilitating market access for the ruminant sub-sector to new entrepreneurs; reducing and controlling livestock losses due to diseases and to decrease dependence on imported livestock feed."
He said to strengthen these five strategies, DAN 2.0 has established 16 strategic plans with the primary goal of developing the country's livestock sector through defined targets.Khoo asked about the target of the DAN 2.0 to assist with the development of the livestock sector.