SERDANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday launched a new padi variety, MR 269, a normal inbred variety which has a better resistance against the leaf blast disease and pests in order to increase national padi production.
The launch was in conjunction with the launching of the Malaysian Agricultural, Horticultural and Agro-Tourism Exhibition (MAHA International 2012) and the National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day 2012 at the Malaysian Agricultural Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) here.
In addition, Najib also launched a mill specifically for the fragrant rice.
The mill was upgraded from producing 500 kg of fragrant rice per day to a commercial mini factory capable of producing six to eight metric tons per day.
Also present were Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar, secretary-general of the ministry, Datuk Mohd Hashim Abdullah, and the director-general of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi), Datuk Dr Abd Shukor Abd Rahman.
Mardi said in a statement that the MR 269 variety was a new strain developed by Mardi which was suitable on land in the
various rice bowl areas. — Bernama