The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry is mulling over the possibility of using high technology padi seeds produced by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to raise padi output.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said a study was being conducted to look at the quality of 'PadiU Putra' said to be able to give a yield of up to 10 tonnes per hectare in one season.

"If it is suitable and could produce such high output, we should expand the planting of the seeds to other areas," he told reporters after launching a Pasir Salak Service Centre Charitable Body in Kampung Gajah on Saturday.

The seeds named PadiU Putra were produced by nine UPM researchers after a six-year study under the Long Term Research Grant Scheme.

About 300 padi farmers are planting the pioneer crop of PadiU Putra on 500 hectares of padi fields in the Integrated Agriculture Development Area (Ketara) in the districts of Besut and Setiu in Terengganu.

- BERNAMA