Latest news with #NationalSeedHub
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
National Seed Council to regulate seed industry and prevent monopoly
PASIR SALAK: The National Seed Council is in its final evaluation stages and will be launched soon to regulate the seed industry and prevent monopolisation. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu emphasised the council's role in ensuring orderly seed management across all plant and livestock sectors. Mohamad stated, '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 made these remarks during a press conference at the FELCRA Plantation Services Sdn Bhd Padi Seed Centre in Seberang Perak. The council will also establish a seed repository system to store 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, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) designated the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) as the lead agency for the National Seed Hub. An advisory council with various experts will also be formed to support the initiative. Currently, Malaysia heavily depends on imported seeds, including 90% of vegetable and watermelon seeds worth RM2.7 million. The new council aims to reduce reliance on foreign seed sources and strengthen local seed production. - Bernama
Barnama
2 days ago
- 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.
