More than 1,000 farmers from five local  farmers organisations in Pasir Puteh today submitted a memorandum of protest to Padi Beras Nasional Berhad (Bernas) against its high deduction on their padi sales this season.

Pasir Puteh parliamentary agriculture development council chairperson Zawawi Othman, who represented the farmers, said the deduction of up to 30 percent for each tonne of padi was unreasonable and also a burden to the farmers.

"We want them to be fair, at least total deduction should not be more than 20 percent for each tonne purchased, in order to lighten their burden in view of the increase in costs to pay for ploughing work, seedlings, weed killer and additional fertilisers," he told reporters after handing over the memorandum in Pasir Puteh today.

Zawawi who is also Pasir Puteh Umno division head, said on average the farmers were losing about RM40 for each tonne of padi sold to the agency.

Meanwhile East Zone Bernas head Ali Senik who received the memorandum from the farmers, said the matter would be forwarded to the higher management of Bernas.

The deduction was made based on the quality of the padi stocks, like ripeness, breakage (of grains) and on average the deduction used to be at around 18 percent.

- Bernama