'BERAS MELAKA’ TO HIT STATE MARKET WITHIN TWO WEEKS

JASIN, March 29 (Bernama) -- About 3,000 bags of Beras Melaka will be distributed and sold in the state within two weeks, said state Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee chairman Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.

He said that a 10-kilogramme (kg) bag of Beras Melaka, from the MR 297 rice seeds that have been cultivated since last year, would be sold at RM26 per 10-kilogramme (kg) bag and its sales will be managed by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) of Melaka.

"The production of this 30 tonnes of white rice involves a 42-hectare paddy field statewide, using the rice seeds that we have produced ourselves.

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"We are targeting more sales in July, with the production of 200 to 300 tonnes of rice harvested 1,000 acres of paddy fields,” he told reporters at the state-level "Semarak Syawal” Programme at the Merlimau Farmers’ Market here today, which was also attended by Melaka FAMA director Nor Azhar Abdul Hamid.

Akmal said that, more encouragingly, Melaka had also produced its own rice seeds for sale to farmers at RM58 and, so far, 2,347 bags of rice seeds have been successfully produced.

"This effort is also seen to be very helpful to farmers in obtaining quality seeds at low prices and can be purchased directly from the Area Farmers’ Organisation (PPK) without the involvement of middlemen,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said they have also identified a more systematic paddy and rice production system, with improvements made to its implementation mechanism to ensure its produce can be enjoyed by the people in the state.

"Previously, the rice produced was sent to other states, resulting in us not knowing the actual quantity of production, but this time we have a way to organise it so that we can produce Beras Melaka for Melaka folk," he said.

-- BERNAMA