Storage, Handling Affect Quality Of Certified Padi Seed - Agriculture Dept

KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) -- The Department of Agriculture today clarified that the quality of certified padi seed after verification can be influenced by several factors, including storage conditions, handling practices, and the time gap between certification and use by farmers.

Its director-general Datuk Nor Sam Alwi said that as the certifying agency for padi seed, the department carries out field inspections, premises audits, documentation reviews, and quality testing to ensure that the seed produced complies with established standards.

“These include the Malaysian Department of Agriculture Standard 2021, Malaysian Standard (MS) 469:2012, and the regulations of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA),” she said in a statement.

She added that thorough and stringent inspections are conducted on all certified padi seed producers appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM).

"These inspections cover padi seed farms, audits of processing facilities, documentation reviews, and laboratory testing to ensure that the seed produced meets the stipulated requirements.

"However, responsibility for seed quality after certification lies with the producers, and any issues related to storage and distribution are beyond the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture," she said.

She made the clarification in response to recent media reports alleging a decline in the quality of certified padi seed.

Nor Sam said that any complaints regarding the quality of certified padi seed could be submitted to the department for further investigation, based on traceability through the labels on the seed bags to identify the production source and process.

She also reminded farmers to keep the label on the seed bag and ensure they do not accept certified padi seed bags that have exceeded the specified usage date, so that any quality-related complaints can be addressed more swiftly and effectively.

Additionally, farmers are advised to refer to Rice Check to ensure that padi cultivation is managed according to proper procedures and meets the targets set for improving productivity and quality.

"The Department of Agriculture remains committed to ensuring a supply of high-quality certified padi seed and supporting the development of the national agriculture sector," she added.

-- BERNAMA