JERTEH, Sept 2 — The Terengganu government has channelled agricultural assistance worth RM650,000 to ease the burden of 272 chilli farmers in the state affected by the falling prices of the commodity.
State Agriculture, Food Industry, Plantation, Commodity and Rural Development Committee chairman Dr Azman Ibrahim said from the total, RM300,000 was channelled to the chilli planters while the remaining would be used as water pump aid to the short-term vegetables and fruits growers.
“The assistance is provided to reduce the burden of chilli entrepreneurs due to the fall in the market price of cili kulai and cili padi from January to June this year.
“They received assistance in the form of seeds, cocopeat (fibre), fertigation and foliar fertilisers worth between RM1,000 and RM2,000 per farmer,” he told Bernama after launching the assistance handover ceremony at Kampung Raja Mini Stadium here today.
Azman said the farmers suffered a total loss of RM2.2 million in the first six months of this year, based on the price of RM5 per kilogramme at that time.
“However, the current price of cili kulai has now increased to between RM10 to RM12 per kg for the farm price,” he added.
The water pump assistance to the short-term crop growers is focused on active participants whose pumps have damaged and those who do not own the equipment, he said.
Azman said the assistance distribution programme, which begins in Besut, will be expanded to other districts.
