Thai seeds spark rice protests in Kendari

The Jakarta Post, Kendari

Kolaka Regent Adel Berty's recent initiative to distribute Thai rice seeds to local farmers in the regency, located in Southeast Sulawesi, sparked a sharp protest from local agriculture and plantation authorities which said it was against Law No. 12/1992 on cultivation of seedlings.

Rosdiana, chief of the office of the Seed Certification and Supervision Agency (BPSB), said that supplying the Thai seeds was illegal and those seeds that have already been distributed to local farmers must be withdrawn.

"The regent's action to supply the Thai seeds and distribute to local farmers is illegal and he could be prosecuted for the wrongdoing," Antara news agency quoted her as saying here on Wednesday.

She said the supply of seeds and seedlings from foreign countries must receive permission from BPSB and the Seedling Quarantine House in order to get a guarantee for the quality and safety of the seeds and seedlings.

Rosdiana said the local agriculture office has asked the Kolaka administration to stop distributing the uncertified seeds to local farmers while BPSB was studying the particular variety.

"And all seeds that have been already distributed must be taken back because the seeds' origin and their distribution are not in accordance with regulations," she said, adding, however, that Adel had good intentions, but the way he did it was inappropriate.

Adel brought in ten kilograms of Thai rice seeds last April when he, along with other participants of a short course at the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), made a visit to Thailand and distributed them to local farmers to cultivate.

Last month, Lemhannas Governor Ermaya, visited the regency to mark the maiden harvest of rice grown using the Thai seeds. --Antara