The establishment of the National Seed Council (NSC) is expected to help reduce government expenditure on seed imports, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar.
“All this while, we have only focused on planting and livestock without paying attention to the production of seeds,” he said after chairing the NSC’s first meeting here, Monday.
He said the council could guarantee the quality of seeds for crops, livestock and fish, and also assist the country achieve its agro-food policies, as well as ensure food security.
Apart from producing seeds the council, which was approved on July 27, also aimed to help the country become a global seed exporter, Noh added.
Under the National Key Economic Areas policy, the seed industry is expected to contribute an estimated RM467mil to the country’s gross national income, said Noh.
He further informed that the council would also draft and pass several new acts and regulations to streamline enforcement within the industry, such as Crop Seeds Quality Act, Livestock Seed Regulations and Fisheries Seed Regulations.
“It is safer for the country to be self-sufficient and be prepared for any future risk, should our main suppliers decide to ban export of their seeds,” he elaborated.
