JERLUN: There is a temporary reprieve for over 1,000 padi farmers in Kedah as rice millers in the state did not slash the padi purchasing price today, as it was widely rumoured.
Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) padi farmers' action committee chairman Che Ani Mat Zain said as of today, the millers were still purchasing the crop at RM1,600 per metric tonne from the farmers.
"It is a sheer relief for the farmers as for now the rice millers did not slash the purchasing price to RM1,300 per metric tonne as rumoured.
"In fact, I was informed that some of the rice millers are even purchasing the crop at between RM1,700 and RM1,750 per metric tonne today," he said when met in Kampung Permatang Mahang here.
The New Straits Times reported farmers' grave concern over rumours that the rice millers were revising the padi purchasing price from RM1,600 to RM1,300 per metric tonne starting today.
The RM1,300 per metric tonne is the floor price set by the government last year.
Despite the temporary reprieve, Che Ani reiterated that the farmers were still hopeful that the government would revise the RM2.60 per kg ceiling price of locally-produced white rice that was fixed 18 years ago.
He said the farmers were still hoping that the government would take into account their plight over increasing input costs by revising the ceiling price for our rice to RM3 per kg.
"By doing so, we hope that it will provide a room for the rice millers to further increase the padi purchasing price to between RM1,700 and RM1,800 per metric tonne.
"Eventually, we hope that the government will also increase the floor price of padi purchasing to RM1,600 per metric tonne to reflect the current production cost which has increased by several folds over the past 18 years," he said.
Che Ani also expressed hope that the government would announce its decision over the matter soon, in a proper manner.
He pointed out that any contradicting statements coming from the government would create an adverse impact to the industry, in particular the farmers.
Citing an example, he said some of the 57,000 farmers under Mada had hastily harvested their crops over the last couple of days fearing that the rice millers were revising downward the purchasing price beginning today.
"Some of the crops are only supposed to be harvested next week, but they were really spooked by the rumours and decided to proceed with harvesting their crops.
"This is an example of how poor communications in the government machinery cause an adverse impact to the farmers," he said.
Padi farmers in Kedah — some 57,000 who are under Mada — collectively contribute the largest chunk in national rice production.
They account for 45 per cent of the cultivation of the country's staple food.
On Wednesday, the National Action Council for Cost of Living (Naccol) food cluster task force chairman Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Faisal announced that the government would introduce the Malaysia Madani white rice priced at RM30 for a 10kg sack on Feb 19.
He was reported as saying that following the move, there would no longer be local white rice (SST) and imported white rice (SSI) categories, adding that the Malaysia Madani white rice would be the sole category.
However, on Saturday, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu in a statement said the government had not made any decision introducing a single category of white rice known under the Malaysia Madani white rice branding.
(hyperlink: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/1014318/now-govt-says-no-deci...).