Replace 'plant poison' subsidies with vouchers, says backbencher

KUALA LUMPUR: A government backbencher has suggested that subsidised herbicides that are currently given out to paddy farmers be replaced with vouchers, to avoid wastage.
Chan Ming Kai (PH-Alor Star) said vouchers were more practical because farmers could choose herbicides or "plant poisons" of their choice to fight the diseases that affect their paddy plants.
"In fact, many farmers keep the subsidised herbicides and do not use them, as they may not be suitable considering the different type of diseases that attack their paddy plants and cultivation," he said when debating on the motion of thanks of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V's royal address at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Chang also suggested that the government make more specific studies on rice seedlings.
"We received complaints from farmers that while a lot of paddy was produced, they were not fit for consumption because the herbicides used were not suitable to give the farmers a good yield.
Only nine companies were allowed to produce rice seeds throughout the country, he said adding that more companies should be allowed to do so.
He added that Syarikat Perniagaan Peladang (Mada) Sdn Bhd which was supposed to produce 12,000 tonnes of rice seeds until May, had only come out with 3,000 tonnes of rice seeds, adding however that other companies producing only 6,500 tonnes of rice seeds managed to reach 100% of the quota. — Bernama