Call for push in seed production

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government wants the private sector to be involved in increasing seed production for local consumption and export. 

Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he was impressed with the private sector in other countries such as Thailand that had initiated production of seeds for their own use and export but said that Malaysia was lagging behind. 

He said the Government was considering forming the National Seed Council for the private and government sectors to work together to produce quality seeds. 

The global seed trade is estimated at US$50bil (RM182bil). Malaysia was a small player with RM22.23mil in total imports and RM10.9mil exports in 2004, said Muhyiddin who opened the Asian Seed Congress 2006 yesterday. 

“Most of the imports are seeds of vegetables and cover crops and ornamental planting materials,” he said. 

In 2004, Malaysia imported RM9.97mil worth of vegetable seeds, RM5.91mil cover crops and pasture seeds and RM3.76mil ornamental planting materials.