Thai seeds spark rice protests in Kendari

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local farmers must be withdrawn.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