Latest news with #Clearfield
The Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
New padi varieties tackle weedy rice
A more resistant crop: Mohamad (left) inspecting the new Clearfield rice varieties at the Felcra Bhd Seed Centre, Seberang Perak. He is accompanied by Robert Upton, BASF head of business management South-East Asia. — Bernama PASIR SALAK: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, through the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi), has introduced two new padi varieties to address the weedy rice issue in the country. Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the development of the new MR CL3 and MR CL4 varieties was the result of a strategic collaboration between Mardi and BASF (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd over the past 20 years. 'MR CL3 and MR CL4 mature earlier, at 99 days, and have a yield potential of over seven tonnes per hectare,' he said during the launch of the new Clearfield padi varieties at the Felcra Bhd Seed Centre here. Also present were ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak; Perak Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun; Mardi Governing Board chairman Dr Azman Ismail; and Mardi director-general Datuk Dr Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani. Mohamad said both varieties are also resistant to leaf and neck blast diseases and can be utilised under current KPKM initiatives, such as the five padi planting seasons in two years programme and the Large-Scale SMART Padi Field (SMART SBB) programme. As for the commercialisation of the new varieties, he said it would be carried out through the Clearfield Production System, which includes padi varieties, imidazolinone herbicide (Trek) and stewardship guidelines, to tackle the weedy rice issue. Mohamad added that the MR CL3 and MR CL4 varieties were specifically bred to be resistant to imidazolinone herbicides, Bernama reported. Weedy rice, also known as 'padi angin' in Malaysia, is a problematic weed that can significantly reduce crop yields. Earlier, Mohamad also officiated the launch of the new Integrated Agricultural Development Area Complex in Seberang Perak.
The Star
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Cloud seeding to be carried out in Kerian to address dry padi fields
PASIR SALAK: Cloud seeding will be carried out to address the issue of dry padi fields caused by hot weather, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said the decision was made following concerns raised by padi farmers in Kerian, Perak, over the receding water level in Bukit Merah Lake. "We are working on the cloud seeding. We've done it before but we'll have to wait and see. However, (levels at) reservoirs remain a critical concern. "That is why a water transfer project is being planned in the Kerian Valley to address water issues in the Kerian Valley and South Seberang Prai," he told a press conference after a ceremony to unveil the new Clearfield padi varieties MR CL3 and MR CL4 at the Felcra Berhad Padi Seed Centre here on Monday (July 14). Mohamad said the raw water distribution project from Sungai Perak to the Bukit Merah Dam, aimed at increasing water supply capacity for agricultural use in the Kerian area, is expected to begin in August. In another development, he said the increase in rice supply quotas to manufacturers would be based on each factory's production capacity. "The quota is based on capacity. If a bumiputra-owned factory has the capacity, we will do our best to assist," he said. On Wednesday, Perak rural development, plantation, agriculture and food industry committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun said that the state government would submit a request to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to increase the rice supply quota for manufacturers, especially bumiputra manufacturers, to meet current needs and safeguard the country's food supply. He said the move was crucial to ensure cooperation between large and small manufacturers in revitalising the rice industry and maintaining a stable and adequate supply. – Bernama
Barnama
14-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Cloud Seeding To Be Carried Out To Address Dry Padi Fields
PASIR SALAK, July 14 (Bernama) -- Cloud seeding operations will be carried out to address the issue of dry padi fields caused by the hot weather, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. He said the decision was made following concerns raised by padi farmers in Kerian, Perak, over the receding water level in Bukit Merah Lake due to the hot weather. 'We are working on the cloud seeding. We've done it before as well, but we'll have to wait and water reservoirs remain a critical concern. 'That is why a water transfer project is being planned in the Kerian Valley to address water issues in the Kerian Valley and South Seberang Perai,' he told a press conference after a ceremony to unveil the new Clearfield padi varieties MR CL3 and MR CL4 at the Felcra Berhad Padi Seed Centre here today. Mohamad said the raw water distribution project from Sungai Perak to the Bukit Merah Dam, aimed at increasing water supply capacity for agricultural use in the Kerian area, is expected to begin in August. In another development, he said the increase in rice supply quotas to manufacturers would be based on each factory's capacity to produce the country's staple food. 'The quota is based on capacity. If a Bumiputera-owned factory has the capacity, we will do our best to assist,' he said. Last Wednesday, Perak Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun said that the state government would submit a request to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to increase the rice supply quota for manufacturers, especially Bumiputera manufacturers, to meet current needs and safeguard the country's food supply. He said the move was crucial to ensure cooperation between large and small manufacturers in revitalising the rice industry and maintaining a stable and adequate supply.
Barnama
14-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
National Seed Council To Be Launched Soon To Address Monopoly Issues
PASIR SALAK, July 14 (Bernama) -- The National Seed Council, which is currently in the final stages of evaluation, will be launched soon. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the body is crucial to ensure proper regulation of the seed industry in the country and prevent monopolisation by any particular company or country. "Let the management of seeds be done in an orderly manner, and we will have a national seed board to regulate all types of plant or livestock seeds in Malaysia," he said. The minister said this in a press conference following the Clearfield padi varieties MR CL3 and MR CL4 declaration at the FELCRA Plantation Services Sdn Bhd Padi Seed Centre in Seberang Perak today. Also present were the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak; Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) board chairman Dr Azman Ismail; State Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun; and MARDI director-general Datuk Dr Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani. Mohamad also said that one of the council's key functions will be to establish a seed repository system or an official storage centre for all types of local agricultural and livestock seeds. "The padi seed centre will serve as a repository for all types of seeds available in the country, and in the event of any issues, we can use the repository to produce seeds for the future," he added. In June, KPKM, in a meeting, decided to designate MARDI as the lead agency for the National Seed Hub, in addition to establishing an advisory council comprising various experts to develop the coordinating body. Malaysia currently relies almost entirely on imported seeds, including 90 per cent of vegetable and watermelon seeds valued at RM2.7 million.
New Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- 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.
