Kuala Lumpur: Kedah is currently in the process of identifying suitable padi seed varieties for local farmers, said State Agriculture, Plantation and Transport Committee chairman Dzowahir Ab Ghani. He stated that a working visit was recently made to the Integrated Organic Agricultural Research Centre in Malang, Indonesia, as part of this initiative.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, two varieties, HMS700 and HMS70D, have been shortlisted for further study to assess their suitability for cultivation in Kedah. Dzowahir emphasized the urgent need to introduce new padi seed varieties to help maximize yields. He addressed this issue in response to a question from Muhamad Amri Wahab (PN-Derga) at the Kedah legislative assembly, who sought an update on the state government’s plan to develop its own padi seeds.

Previously, Kedah announced its intention to develop its own padi seed varieties to boost production and farmers’ income. Dzowahir elaborated that the state government is also collaborating with the Malaysian Nuclear Agency and Universiti Teknologi MARA to develop new varieties from existing padi seeds.

He added that such collaborations also involve international institutions, including the China Agriculture Technology Institute in Chongqing, which has offered to help introduce hybrid seeds reportedly capable of producing yields of up to 19 tonnes per hectare. Many major rice-producing countries, such as India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar, have already adopted hybrid varieties, which have been proven to significantly increase yields, Dzowahir noted.