Melaka: The Melaka state government has announced plans to launch the second phase of its padi seed production under the Melaka Padi Seed Farm project by early next year. This initiative is designed to provide farmers with more affordable padi seed options.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Exco Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh revealed that the current project at Kampung Tengah Padang, Merlimau, is scheduled to enter its second production phase around October, following the harvest season. The initiative is expected to enable farmers to purchase padi seeds for approximately RM50 per 20kg bag, a notable reduction from the current market rates, which can soar to RM70.

Dr. Muhamad Akmal further explained that while the seeds cost about RM48 per 20kg bag at the warehouse level, the prices escalate to RM70 by the time they reach farmers due to transportation and distribution expenses. Through this project, farmers could potentially only need to cover an additional RM2 for transport, resulting in a final price of around RM50 per bag.

The first phase of Melaka's padi seed production project successfully produced nearly 32 tonnes of seeds. The state government is aiming for a similar yield in the second phase. Parallelly, the production of Beras Melaka (Melaka Rice) is reported to be progressing on schedule, with a monthly capacity of about 1,200 bags. The demand for Beras Melaka remains robust, with supplies distributed through FAMA Melaka often selling out rapidly, and production will be scaled up as necessary to meet future demand.