200 farmers demonstrate at parliament, worried about new seed monopoly

About 200 individuals consisting of rice farmers, small farmers, environmental activists and NGO representatives gathered in front of the parliament building in Kuala Lumpur to urge the government to cancel Malaysia’s participation in the 1991 UPOV convention.

The gathering aimed to submit two memorandums demanding the defense of the rights of small farmers who are alleged to be at risk if the amendment to the Protection of New Plant Varieties Act 2004 is continued.

Assembly spokesman Abdul Rashid Yob claimed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) submitted a draft amendment to the act to the UPOV Secretariat in Geneva last September.

“The involvement of foreign bodies in the formation of national laws without comprehensive consultation with stakeholders, including the governments of Sabah and Sarawak, is seen as a form of violation of national sovereignty.

“This amendment will revoke the traditional rights of small farmers to exchange and sell seeds, as well as limit the right to save seeds for the next breeding season,” he told reporters after handing over the memorandum.

The government has so far neither confirmed nor denied the allegations of submitting the draft act to the UPOV Secretariat.

Malaysiakini is trying to obtain clarification from Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu and his officials regarding this allegation and issue. 

Today’s gathering was organised by the Malaysian Food Sovereignty Forum (FKMM) and was also attended by representatives from the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) and the Mandiri student group.

The attendees carried various placards with slogans such as “Lift Farmers’ Rights”, “Students with Farmers”, “Farmers are not lazy” and “Reject Upov”.

Also on display was a large sketch of Mohamad showing the “good” finger gesture.

More than 50 uniformed police were present to control the rally, which proceeded without any disturbances.

Earlier, a memorandum was also given to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Chan Foong Hin, PN Chief Whip Takiyuddin and Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing representing the Agriculture and Domestic Trade Special Select Committee (PAC).

All parties that received the memorandum promised to bring the issue to parliament.

Seed supply monopoly

Meanwhile, the coalition claims that the 1991 UPOV will only strengthen the monopoly of large companies on seed supply, thus eliminating traditional practices that have long been the backbone of local farmers’ survival.

“The existing PNPV Act 2004 is sufficiently balanced in protecting the rights of breeders and farmers, as well as safeguarding the interests of Indigenous communities and local biodiversity.

“Deleting the section relating to the prevention of biopiracy and the obligation to supply seeds at reasonable prices will only place the country’s seed policy under the influence of foreign powers,” he said.

Apart from the seed issue, rice farmers also raised the cost of living crisis which is becoming increasingly pressing due to the increasing cost of agricultural inputs and pressure on paddy prices in the market.

Among their main demands is a call for the government to set the maximum paddy grading rate at 20 percent to avoid losses for the farmers.

They also demanded that the government revise the price of paddy to RM1,800 per metric ton and make immediate improvements to the agricultural subsidy system.

They also complained about delays in fertilizer distribution, weak water management, and bureaucratic red tape in the disaster takaful scheme that made it difficult for them to receive compensation.

“The government needs to address the issue of leakages and weak governance in relevant agencies which have been alleged to be affecting the country’s rice production chain.

“If these demands are ignored, the country’s food sovereignty will continue to be threatened and dependence on imported seeds will increase dramatically,” he added.

Abdul Rashid added that UPOV 1991 is an international agreement that gives plant breeders intellectual property protection rights for new plant varieties they produce.

However, it became controversial after allegations that farmers were not free to store, exchange or resell protected seeds, unless permitted by national law.

Small-scale farmers do not agree with this agreement because it is seen as potentially detrimental to small farmers and only benefits large seed companies, as well as potentially threatening food sovereignty.

Source: malaysiakini.com