16 AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY @ AGROBiz | July-August. 2025
16 AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY @ AGROBiz | July-August. 2025
BOOSTING RICE RESILIENCE: Mohamad Sabu and officials take a closer look to observe the performance of the newly introduced MR CL3 and MR CL4 varieties.
Battling weeds and drought
• New rice varieties by MARDI and BASF promise higher yields and better resistance to weedy rice.
• To address drought and low water levels in Perak, cloud seeding and a raw water transfer from Sungai Perak are in the works to tackle dry conditions.
• KPKM is adjusting quotas to keep rice supplies steady and give more support to capable Bumiputera factories.
MALAYSIAN rice farmers may soon have a more potent weapon in their fight against weedy rice, with the introduction of two newly developed varieties, MR CL3 and MR CL4, by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security( KPKM) through the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute( MARDI).
The launch, held at the Felcra Berhad Seed Centre, highlighted the outcome of over 20 years of collaboration between the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute( MARDI) and BASF( Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
“ MR CL3 and MR CL4 mature earlier, at 99 days, and have a yield potential of over seven tonnes per hectare,” said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu during the officiation ceremony.
Designed specifically to address the issue of padi angin, or weedy rice- a common weed that mimics cultivated paddy and competes for nutrients- these varieties are also resistant to imidazolinone herbicides. This resistance enables more effective weed control without harming the crop.
Mohamad added:“ The MR CL3 and MR CL4 varieties were specifically bred to be resistant to imidazolinone herbicides.”
NEW PADDY SOLUTION
LEADERS IN THE FIELD: Mohamad Sabu and key officials pose after officiating the launch of MR CL3 and MR CL4 at Felcra Berhad Seed Centre, Pasir Salak.
The varieties will be commercialised under the Clearfield Production System, which integrates herbicidetolerant paddy seeds with BASF’ s proprietary imidazolinone herbicide( Trek) and stewardship practices to ensure responsible application.
Mohamad also noted the compatibility of the new varieties with national initiatives, stating that they are suitable for use under the five paddy planting seasons in the two-year programme, as well as the Smart SBB( Large-Scale Smart Paddy Field) programme.
In addition to higher productivity, both varieties offer resistance to leaf and neck blast diseases- an advantage for farmers seeking more reliable harvests in challenging environments.
The launch was attended by top officials, including KPKM Secretary- General Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, Chairman of the Perak Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture, and Food Industry Committee Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun, MARDI Governing Board Chairman Dr Azman Ismail, and MARDI Director-General Datuk Dr Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani.
Beyond seed innovation, Mohamad also addressed another primary concern affecting farmers- drought conditions and receding water levels that are threatening the current planting season in parts of Perak.
He announced that cloud seeding operations will be deployed to help alleviate the dry conditions in areas like Kerian, where paddy fields are experiencing water shortages due to the low level at Bukit Merah Dam.
IRRIGATION RELIEF
“ We are working on the cloud seeding. We’ ve done it before as well, but we’ ll have to wait and see. However, water reservoirs remain a critical concern,” Mohamad said.
To strengthen water security in the longer term, Mohamad revealed that a raw water transfer initiative from Sungai Perak to the Bukit Merah Dam is scheduled to begin in August. The move is expected to enhance irrigation for both the Kerian Valley and South Seberang Perai agricultural zones.
Mohamad explained:“ That is why a water transfer project is being planned in the Kerian Valley to address water issues in the Kerian Valley and South Seberang Perai.”
As climate impacts continue to affect planting cycles, the ministry is also looking into stabilising the downstream supply chain. Mohamad stated that rice supply quota allocations for manufacturers, particularly Bumiputera-owned factories, will be determined based on production capacity.
“ The quota is based on capacity. If a Bumiputera-owned factory has the capacity, we will do our best to assist,” he said.
This came after Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun stated that the Perak state government would formally request an increase in rice manufacturing quotas to meet the rising demand and ensure adequate stock in the market. The request is part of broader efforts to support small and medium-sized processors and protect national food supply.
According to Zolkafly, the move is intended to“ ensure cooperation between large and small manufacturers in revitalising the rice industry and maintaining a stable and adequate supply.”
The release of improved seed technology to urgent weatherresponse plans and supply chain realignments reflects KPKM’ s multifaceted strategy to reinforce Malaysia’ s rice sector in the face of both environmental and economic challenges.- @ AGROBiz