New MADA chairman prioritizes resolving fertilizer delay

The newly appointed chairman of the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA), Wan Kharizal Wan Khazim, has declared that resolving the delayed supply of compound fertilizer will be his first priority. He pledged to address the issue promptly upon assuming office.

"I will look further into what is being done to resolve the issue of delayed additional compound fertilizer," Wan Kharizal stated. "We will also hold discussions with relevant parties to get a thorough explanation of the protracted issue."

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I will look further into what is being done to resolve the issue of delayed additional compound fertilizer. We will also hold discussions with relevant parties to get a thorough explanation of the protracted issue.

He assured that the problem, which is burdening farmers, would be solved in the near future. This comes after a report that about 38,000 paddy farmers have not yet received their fertilizer for an area spanning 78,117 hectares. They are reportedly losing up to RM1.3 million daily.

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Insya-Allah we ensure the issue of delayed fertilizer that burdens farmers is resolved in the near future.

This estimate considers losses of around RM25 per hectare for farmers cultivating 52,000 hectares of paddy fields currently between 31 and 75 days old. MADA had previously guaranteed increased monitoring and coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and other stakeholders to ensure the remaining 478,455 fertilizer bags for 38,000 farmers are distributed before the supply period ends on October 1.

As of Tuesday, MADA had supplied 137,560 bags, or 22%, of the total requirement of 616,015 bags. Wan Kharizal also indicated that addressing farmers' issues would be a key focus alongside the fertilizer supply problem, expressing confidence that a solution would be found.

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Insya-Allah there will be a way out and we want to ensure this issue is resolved.