‘Local padi yields more than imported ones’

LOCAL rice varieties produce higher yield than imported padi seeds, said Deputy Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Hamzah. He said local rice varieties could be harvested within 110 days, yielding seven to 10 tonnes of rice per hectare. “Varieties such as MR253, MR220, MR303 and MR307 produce higher yields, so buying seeds from outside the country is not recommended for now.” He said factors such as type of soil and weather conditions affected yield, so there was no guarantee that imported seeds could produce good yield here.