Farmers lose RM1.3 million daily due to delayed fertilizer supply

Malaysian farmers are facing substantial daily financial losses, estimated at RM1.3 million, due to a critical delay in the delivery of essential compound fertilizer. Around 38,000 farmers cultivating rice across 78,117 hectares have yet to receive their supply, impacting crops that are currently between 31 and 75 days old.

Mohd. Shazwan Suban, chairman of Suara Tani Malaysia, warned that this delay could lead to a yield reduction of up to 30%. This situation is forcing farmers to purchase fertilizer from external markets at higher prices, further straining their finances. Normally, a farmer can expect to harvest five to six metric tons per hectare, earning up to RM10,000 per hectare if crops are problem-free.

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The delay in the supply of this fertilizer can cause yields to drop by up to 30 percent, besides forcing farmers to use their own capital to buy fertilizer on the open market at a higher price.

Calculations show that a typical farmer earns about RM83 per day during the four-month cultivation period. However, with a potential 30% yield reduction due to the fertilizer shortage, their income could drop to RM58 per day, resulting in a loss of approximately RM25 daily per farmer. This cumulative loss for thousands of farmers amounts to the staggering RM1.3 million daily figure.

The Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) had previously assured that the remaining 478,455 bags of fertilizer, needed by 38,000 farmers, would be distributed before the October 1 deadline. As of Tuesday, only 137,560 bags, or 22% of the total requirement, had been supplied. MADA acknowledged supply shortfalls that have disrupted distribution, emphasizing the critical need for the third fertilizer application during the current growth stage to support grain formation.

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Rice cannot be told to 'stop' growing while waiting for the responsible parties to resolve the supply problem.