Kuala Lumpur: The Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (PeSAWAH), an association representing paddy farmers, has urged the government to consider its proposal to raise the paddy floor price from RM1,300 per tonne to RM1,800. PeSAWAH chairman Abdul Rashid Yob said that the proposal, along with another outlined in a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), today, reflects the urgent needs of paddy farmers across the nation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Abdul Rashid emphasized that the request by paddy farmers is reasonable, especially given that the current floor price is no longer relevant in light of rising diesel and paddy seed costs. He highlighted the importance of increasing the paddy floor price to ensure the survival of paddy farmers and secure the country's food supply. Abdul Rashid shared these concerns with reporters after submitting the memorandum to the Prime Minister's political secretary, Chan Ming Kai.

Additionally, Abdul Rashid mentioned that the memorandum also voiced PeSAWAH's objection to the proposed Crop Seed Quality Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament in the next sitting. He called on the government to consider shelving the bill. Abdul Rashid explained that the proposed bill mandates individuals involved in processing and distributing crop seeds to obtain a license and submit seed samples for laboratory verification tests. Under the bill, any seed storage or distribution entity operating without a license could face fines of up to RM100,000 and a prison sentence of up to three years. He expressed strong objection to the proposed bill, viewing it as a burden on small-scale farmers.

The objection stems from rising costs of paddy cultivation, frequent delays in seed supply, and the declining quality of certified paddy seeds. Abdul Rashid noted that nearly 30 percent of paddy farmers have started processing, sharing, and selling paddy seeds from their own fields in recent years to reduce costs and generate additional income on a small scale.

Earlier, over 500 paddy farmers gathered peacefully at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) grounds, holding posters with messages such as 'PMX tolong naikkan harga lantai' (PMX, please raise floor prices) and 'Tolak pelesenan wajib untuk setiap benih' (Reject compulsory licensing for every seed). In response, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, assured that he would visit the affected areas to engage with the farmers directly. He committed to visiting the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA), Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA), and other locations to continue engaging with paddy farmers.