KUALA LUMPUR – The delay in distributing subsidised fertilisers to padi farmers in Kedah has compounded the current rising cost of living and supply shortage of essential goods, as two economists caution that it will continue to burden consumers.
Academy of Sciences fellow Datuk Madeline Berma said farmers could use the delay of fertiliser deliveries to increase prices of their produce while the food supply chain could be disrupted.
“This issue can cause supply to dwindle and prices to soar as logistics costs (among others) go up,” she told The Vibes’ sister portal Getaran.
The delay also affects rice output, said associate professor Abu Sofian Yaacob, again pushing up produce prices.
“Suppliers or manufacturers will be forced to scramble and when this happens, the price of rice will increase. It will be more expensive in line with the price of other goods.”
Meanwhile Bank Islam chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said padi requires consistent use of fertiliser to ensure high yield and is part of its quality control.
“Of course, other factors such as pesticides, water supply and weather play a part in padi yield.”
Yesterday, Amanah vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar brought up complaints from padi farmers over the delivery of fertilisers as the amount distributed was insufficient.
A local consumer advocate group has urged for the setting up of an independent commission with access to enforcement authorities ahead of today’s cabinet meeting on rising living costs and food supply disruptions.
Kuala Lumpur Consumer Safety Association president Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi said the commission should be empowered to take action on cartels and hoarders as well as profiteering.
This, he added, is needed as a slew of ministries and agencies are involved in national food security, for example, the Customs Department, Malaysia Islamic Development Department, International Trade and Industry Ministry, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, and Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry.
He also brought up a committee on living costs set up in 2014, of which he was a member, but did not resolve the issue, and the idea of a commission came up in 2020.
“The issue is a never-ending story.”
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday said the weekly cabinet meeting will be brought forward to today to discuss cost of living and food supply issues. – The Vibes, May 23, 2022
