Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said Mada had subsequently cancelled the supplier’s appointment and immediately initiated a retender exercise.
PETALING JAYA: The supply of Urea 46 fertiliser to padi farmers in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) area was delayed after the successful bidder failed to return its letter of acceptance within the stipulated timeframe, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said Mada had subsequently cancelled the supplier’s appointment and immediately initiated a retender exercise.
He said the supply of Urea 46 fertiliser is now expected to begin on July 15.
Chan also revealed that 25 farmers recorded estimated losses of RM649,000 due to wildlife-related crop and property damage in the first five months of this year.
He said RM300,000 in assistance had been approved under the government’s crop and property damage support initiative for affected farmers.
For 2025, Chan said RM396,131 in aid had been approved, covering estimated losses of RM808,000.
He said the ministry had taken note of complaints regarding delays in fertiliser distribution in the Mada region and had instructed relevant agencies to resolve the issue urgently to avoid disruption to the current padi planting schedule.
Chan was responding to Dr Abd Ghani Ahmad (PN–Jerlun), who had asked about agricultural losses caused by pests and crop threats, as well as government mitigation measures.
In a supplementary question, Abd Ghani said farmers had reported that urea fertiliser had yet to reach them, warning that delays could expose crops to pests such as rats and golden apple snails, potentially affecting yields.
The issue was also highlighted by Utusan Malaysia, quoting Suara Tani Malaysia chairman Mohd Shazwan Suban as saying that about 50,000 padi farmers in the Mada area, covering 100,685 hectares, were affected by delays in subsidised urea fertiliser supply.
He reportedly said padi crops in many areas were already 20 to 30 days into growth stages, but fertiliser had not yet been distributed, raising concerns that yields could drop by up to 50% per hectare.
Chan said several categories of fertiliser supply were affected by delays.
For Padi Compound Fertiliser 1, he said 840,295 bags, or 76% of total requirement, had been received as of June 29.
Of that amount, 705,847 bags, or 80% of received supply, had been distributed to farmers.
“The supplier has given a commitment to complete the full supply by July 5,” he said.
For Additional Padi Compound Fertiliser 3, Chan said only 6% of required supply had been received as of June 29, resulting in an estimated shortfall of 160,000 bags.
He said Mada was working with suppliers to expedite deliveries, with full supply expected between July 10 and July 30.
On crop damage, Chan said pests such as rats, stem borers and brown planthoppers remained the main threats, with increasing incidence trends.
“If these disturbances are not controlled, they can cause a reduction in yields. Farm sanitation is very important in controlling these pests,” he said.
