MADA Steps Up Monitoring to Speed Up Paddy Fertiliser Supply for 38,000 Farmers

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — The Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) has stepped up monitoring efforts to ensure the supply of Additional Compound Fertiliser, also known as Baja Padi 3, reaches farmers more quickly after delays by the appointed supplier.

MADA said that as of Tuesday, only 137,560 bags, equivalent to about 22% of the required supply, had been delivered. The overall requirement stands at 616,015 bags, meaning another 478,455 bags are still needed to fulfil demand.

The outstanding fertiliser supply is needed for around 38,000 paddy farmers covering approximately 78,117 hectares of cultivation in the MADA area.

MADA said it is taking the delay seriously because the supply shortage is occurring during a crucial stage of paddy development.

Around 52,000 hectares of paddy fields are currently between 31 and 75 days after sowing, a period when Baja Padi 3 is required to support panicle formation and grain filling.

Timely application of the fertiliser is therefore important to ensure that farmers can continue crop management according to schedule and minimise disruption to paddy production.

MADA said the welfare of farmers and the smooth running of paddy cultivation remain its priorities, particularly when delays involve essential agricultural inputs.

As part of stricter monitoring, MADA has reminded the supplier to comply with all contractual requirements.

The supplier has also been instructed to provide daily and weekly delivery schedules, enabling MADA to track the movement of fertiliser more closely and identify potential disruptions earlier.

MADA stressed that the supplier remains responsible for fulfilling all obligations agreed under the contract.

Any failure to meet supply commitments will not be taken lightly, and appropriate action may be taken in accordance with contractual provisions and current government procurement regulations.

The issue is not limited to delivery volume.

MADA said laboratory analysis had identified inconsistencies in the physical quality of some fertiliser, particularly involving granule size and dust content.

The agency has consequently demanded corrective measures from the supplier to ensure all fertiliser delivered to farmers meets the required specifications and standards.

Quality control is especially important because farmers depend on fertiliser being applied at specific stages of crop development, meaning both the timing and condition of the product can affect farm operations.

MADA said deliveries resumed on Tuesday, with the supplier providing 15,200 bags of Baja Padi 3.

The authority will continue monitoring fertiliser received by Area Farmers’ Organisations (PPK), distribution to individual farmers and stock levels on the ground on a daily basis.

This closer monitoring is intended to ensure newly delivered supplies move quickly through the distribution network rather than remaining at intermediate storage points.

MADA will also strengthen coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) and other relevant parties to ensure the remaining 478,455 bags are supplied before the current delivery period ends on October 1, 2026.

The authority said the effort is aimed at ensuring fertilisation requirements are met, paddy production can continue smoothly and Malaysia’s broader food-security agenda remains protected.

For MADA, resolving the delay is especially important because its cultivation area represents a significant paddy-producing region, while fertiliser availability directly affects farmers’ ability to follow planned planting and crop-management cycles.

The coming weeks will therefore be critical as MADA monitors whether the supplier can accelerate deliveries sufficiently to clear the outstanding volume before the October deadline.