KUBANG PASU: Padi farmers in Kedah have expressed their gratitude for the increase in padi ploughing incentives and the introduction of padi harvesting incentives, totaling RM210 in cash aid.
The farmers said these measures will help mitigate the impact of the targeted diesel subsidy on padi cultivation.
The ploughing incentive has been raised from RM100 to RM160 per hectare per season, while the harvesting incentive is set at RM50 per hectare per season.
Padi farmer Mohammad Fauzi Rizal, 27, appreciated the aid increase as the cost of padi cultivation has been rising steadily even before the diesel subsidy rationalisation.
Fauzi, who manages 10 hectares of padi fields, said that he has benefited from the incentive since 2019. He added that most farmers should be able to receive it.
"Alhamdulillah, with the recent diesel subsidy rationalisation, it is only fair that we receive an extra RM110 per hectare per season for ploughing and harvesting incentives.
"Padi farmers weren't eligible for the Budi Madani Agri-commodity programme, but this ploughing and harvesting incentive acts as a similar measure," he said when met at Kampung Padang Gelam here today.
Another padi farmer, Mohd Shokri Shakarim, 53, said the incentive increase is a fair move, as it spares farmers from bureaucratic hurdles associated with applying for the Budi Madani programmes.
"Alhamdulillah, this initiative eases the burden on farmers. However, as farmers, the increase may still be insufficient as the cost of padi farming has been rising for a long time.
"We hope for further initiatives to assist farmers, and I hope the government continues its efforts to maintain the current padi purchase price of RM1,700 per metric tonne, which has been helpful," said Shokri, who manages three hectares of padi fields.
Meanwhile, the Farmer's Action Committee in the Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) Areas chairman, Che Ani Mat Zain, said the incentive hike is the right call following the implementation of the targeted diesel subsidy.
However, he stressed that padi farmers have long been under pressure due to various cost increases in padi cultivation, insisting that a thorough review of the ploughing and harvesting incentive needs to be conducted.
"The government's decision to increase the ploughing incentive and introduce the harvesting incentive is a positive step. However, farmers will absorb an increase of about 20 to 40 per cent due to the diesel subsidy rationalisation, so a review of these incentives is necessary as it may not be enough," he added.
Che Ani also said that Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu has agreed to meet with padi farmers in the Muda area to provide a briefing on the initiative's implementation tomorrow.
Yesterday, the media reported that nearly 130,000 padi farmers in Peninsular Malaysia would receive cash aids totaling RM210 per hectare per season through the increase in ploughing incentives and the introduction of harvesting incentives.
According to a statement by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, the ministry has increased the ploughing incentive rate and introduced a harvesting incentive.