FARMERS are likely to benefit from profit earned by Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) or any other parties that will be granted a rice Permit Import (AP) with Bernas’s current contract expiring in January 2021.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub said his ministry planned to allocate part of the profit into the farmers’ investment fund for their welfare, including fishermen.

“A part of the profit will be channelled into the investment fund, which will be distributed back to the farmers, maybe a fund for the welfare of the children of farmers and fishermen to re-use part of the profit later.”

He said in 60 years of independence, lower-level farmers had never tasted the profit from the country’s paddy and rice industry, after the launch of the National Padi Convention 2019, which was officiated by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Salahuddin said the ministry welcomed anyone interested in obtaining the AP contract to replace Bernas, by submitting their request for proposal to the ministry.

“The ministry will make a decision within six months to see who meets the criteria and can take responsibility for the overall food safety. Thus far, we have yet to receive any proposals,” he said.

He pointed out that the ministry would make an assessment as soon as possible whether to extend the Bernas contract or to give it to a more qualified stakeholder.

Salahuddin stressed that the contract was not merely revolved around rice imports and making profit. It would involve the entire value chain of the country’s food security, aside from the farmers’ wellbeing, that must be given due attention. – Bernama, September 10, 2019.