A farmers’ group has urged the government to review the structure of the padi and rice industries, describing it as highly monopolistic and leaving farmers on the losing end.
Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (PeSawah) said the current structure allowed a small number of companies to dominate padi purchasing and rice distribution, to the detriment of farmers.
“PeSawah urges the government to review the highly monopolistic structure of the industry. (The few firms) in padi purchasing and rice distribution limits farmers’ choices (of buyers) and suppresses prices,” PeSawah chairman Abdul Rashid Yob said in a statement.
“This structure should be gradually liberalised to create healthy competition that will ultimately benefit both farmers and consumers.”
While expressing appreciation for the RM2.62 billion in various agriculture subsidies…