MADANI RICE was a popular topic discussed among Malaysian in recent months of February 2024. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has denied allegations suggesting that the Malaysia Madani white rice initiative will benefit cartels. He said that the initiative will not tolerate any intervention from rice cartels. He told reporters that the government are not cutting cartel intervention (with Malaysia Madani white rice). But the government will discuss this at the next National Action Council for Cost of Living (Naccol) meeting, and we have no decision yet (on the initiative). This follows a recent statement by Umno Youth chief, Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to reject the proposal for the Malaysia Madani white rice initiative. Dr Akmal, who is also the Melaka State Executive Councillor for Rural Development, Agriculture, and Food Security, said local white rice was currently difficult to find in the country's market. The government should continue to oppose cartels that mix local rice with imported rice, not support what they are doing. If this Madani rice exists, I believe there will be no local white rice in the market at all. Even now, the issue of local white rice is so difficult for us to obtain. In this blog "Anim Agriculture Technology" I would like share an issue regarding the Madani Rice as reported by nstp.com for all readers.
Reported that for a moment, padi farmers believed that they could finally heave a sigh of relief as the government was reviewing the ceiling price of white rice. However, it seems the farmers, who have been under intense pressure following the steep hike of input costs over recent years, will have to wait further as the authorities sort out the matter. Many were delighted upon learning that the government was setting a new retail price of locally produced rice at RM30 for a 10kg package by March 1 as claimed by Che Ani Mat Zain, the chairman of the Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) action committee. He was referring to the popular issue on announcement by the National Action Council for Cost of Living (NACCOL) food cluster task force on the Malaysia Madani white rice initiative. Recently on Wednesday, the task force's 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, 2024. He was reported as saying that following the move, there will no longer be local white rice (SST) and imported white rice (SSI) categories, adding that the Malaysia Madani white rice will be the sole category. Padi farmers in Kedah as known half of whom are under Mada are collectively contribute the largest chunk in national rice production. They account for 45 per cent of the cultivation of the country's staple food. As such, the announcement was music to the ears of the farmers, since the current ceiling price of RM2.60 per kilogramme for locally produced white rice has not been revised for nearly two decades, despite astronomical hikes in input costs particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic. For the farmers, a revised ceiling price of rice would pave the way for millers to adjust their padi purchasing price upward. They do understand that consumers might be unhappy by the hike but at least it may be the solution to the supply crisis of locally produced white rice that remains unresolved since last September 2023. To them, the RM4 increase for the 10kg sack for local white rice is reasonable given the rising input costs over past 18 the years. "It will be a win-win situation as farmers will be getting a fairer selling price of padi while consumers will get the supply of locally produced white rice.The farmers were left astounded yesterday when Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu announced that the government has not made any decision on introducing a single category of white rice known under the Malaysia Madani white rice branding. The New Straits Times reported that analysts have raised their concerns over the poor coordination within the government, which they described as a "loose cannon" that could have effects on governance and the economy in the near future. They cautioned that such shortcomings could erode public confidence in leadership. While they eagerly await the government's final decision on the matter, padi farmers in Kedah have another issue to worry about. According to Che Ani, rumours are rife that rice millers are reducing the purchase price from RM1,600 per metric tonne to RM1,300 beginning Monday. Since the harvesting season started about a month ago, rice millers have been buying our padi at RM1,600 per metric tonnes. Suddenly, they heard rumours that the rice millers are revising the purchase price to RM1,300 per metric tonnes. Che Ani said the farmers are in the dark over the decision but did not rule out the possibility that this coincides with the introduction of the Malaysia Madani white rice, beginning tomorrow as announced by the NACCOL food cluster task force chairman recently. The move to cut the purchase price, if it goes through, would be devastating to the farmers as they would not be able to cover their high input costs to cultivate the crop. Che Ani said such a move was unacceptable for farmers in Kedah since rice millers in Negri Sembilan are buying the crop at RM1,600 per metric tonnes while those in Selangor are paying RM1,800 per metric tonne. Regardless of the reason, said Che Ani, padi farmers under Mada will organise a mass peaceful protest should the rice millers proceed with the move tomorrow.
On other report stated that 'Malaysia Madani rice: Local, imported, or mixed? Price differences spark debate'. The federal government should provide more details on the Malaysia Madani white rice whether it is local white rice, imported white rice or mixed local and imported rice. In Kual Terengganu a report stated that the federal government should provide more details on the Malaysia Madani white rice whether it is local white rice, imported white rice or mixed local and imported rice. Terengganu Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Dr Azman Ibrahim said the issue needs to be clarified because there is a price difference for each rice category. He said that if it is local rice, it means there is an increase in the price of about RM1 per kg compared to the previous price of RM2.50 per kg. "If it is imported rice, it means there is a price drop because previously imported rice was usually sold at around RM3.80 per kg," he said in his Facebook post. Azman said he believes that the rice may not be from imported rice as Malaysia's imported rice quantity was only about 33 per cent of the country's needs. If it is a mixture of local and imported, the composition of the mixture is of course 60 to 70 per cent local rice, the rest is imported rice. He said any increase involving the supply price of the basic source of food would put the people in a tough situation. Rice is the people's main food source. The increase will put them in a situation of incurring additional expenses where the cost of living is already burdensome. It was reported on Feb 14 that the government will introduce the Malaysia Madani white rice priced at RM30 for a 10 kg sack on Feb 19, which is expected to be available in the market starting from March 1, 2024. Chairman of the task force (food cluster) under the National Action Council for Cost of Living (NACCOL) Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Faisal said this means there will no longer be local white rice (SST) and imported white rice (SSI) categories, adding that the Malaysia Madani white rice will be the sole category. Later the Bukit Gantang Member of Parliament said between Feb 19 and March 1 rice industry players can make adjustments and sell rice in old packaging until all wholesalers' stocks are sold out.
Later the report on 'Now govt says no decision made on Malaysia Madani rice' as reported from NST. In Kuala Lumpur a report said the government has not made any decision on introducing a single category of white rice known as the Malaysia Madani white rice, says Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. At this point, no decision has been made on Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Faisal's proposal. Syed Abu Hussin is the chairman of the National Action Council for Cost of Living (NACCOL) food cluster task force. Earlier this week, the Bukit Gantang member of Parliament said the government will introduce the Malaysia Madani white rice priced at RM30 for a 10 kg sack on Feb 19, which is expected to be available in the market starting from March 1,2024. He said this would mean there will no longer be local white rice (SST) and imported white rice (SSI) categories, adding that the Malaysia Madani white rice will be the sole category. Several quarters have raised questions over the Malaysia Madani white rice initiative and urged the government to clarify the matter. Mohamad today said his ministry agreed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's statement that the proposal should be discussed collectively at the coming NACCOL meeting next week. Any decision or announcement made must be in accordance with the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994 and the Cabinet must be informed beforehand. This ws some issue reported in recent monts regarding to the madani Rice as popular isuue in Malaysia. Thanks... M Anem,
Melaka,
Malaysia.
(Febuary 2024).
Published from:
Royal Hotel, Bogor,
Jawa Tengah, Indonesia.
(3 day trip to Indonesia).
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