Perak: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, today launched the State Farmers’ Organisation Certified Padi Seed Production Centre here. The event was also graced by the presence of the Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, and the Raja Di Hilir of Perak, Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain Sultan Idris Shah.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, their Royal Highnesses were greeted on arrival by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. During the event, Sultan Nazrin and Tuanku Zara also took the opportunity to visit exhibitions at the centre.

Meanwhile, the Farmers’ Organisation Authority (LPP) highlighted in a statement that the officiation marks a strategic step towards strengthening the rice and padi industry ecosystem in support of the country’s food security agenda. The centre’s redevelopment aligns with the government’s aim of ensuring national food security through the adequate, high-quality, and accessible production of certified padi seeds for farmers nationwide.

The centre was developed with an allocation of RM12.72 million and is designed to produce 5,000 metric tonnes of certified padi seeds annually. The statement further elaborated that this centre is one of four new facilities being developed by the Farmers’ Organisation Authority to strengthen the national certified padi seed ecosystem.

Collectively, the four centres are expected to contribute 28 percent of the country’s certified padi seed requirement, equivalent to 20,000 metric tonnes annually. With a total production capacity of one million bags (20 kilogrammes per bag) per year, the centres are capable of supporting padi cultivation over an area of 142,857 hectares nationwide, significantly reducing reliance on third-party suppliers.