ALOR SETAR, March 15 – The government’s decision to increase the floor purchase price of padi to RM1,300 from RM1,200 per metric tonne brings relief to farmers in Kedah, as it helps to increase their income.
Grateful for the government’s decision, a farmer, Mohd Farid Ahmad, 35, said that although the yield of his padi crop was slightly reduced this season, the increase in the floor price has cut the losses he faced.
“With the rise in padi purchase prices, we can cover some of the costs… factories are also buying at higher prices now, so our income is not greatly affected. If padi prices are still low, our income would definitely be affected,” he said.
Abdul Rashid Yob, an executive committee member of the Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Association (PeSawah), said that the increase in the floor pruchase price of padi is very reasonable, considering that the operating costs of padi fields at various levels are increasing.
“We are grateful for the increase from RM1,200 to RM1,300 per metric tonne because farmers’ earnings have been declining for the past four seasons (two years ago). The cost of pesticides has also increased several times, reaching up to 150 per cent.”
“Now, farmers are a bit relieved because the manufacturers themselves are competing to buy padi at prices of up to RM1,750 per metric tonne because the demand for padi has increased. This price (RM1,750) is an additional amount offered by the manufacturers themselves,” he said.
When presenting the Budget 2024 last October, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the increase in the floor purchase price of padi to RM1,300 per metric tonne from RM1,200 per metric tonne to help padi farmers.
He said the decision was made after considering complaints from padi farmers, as the purchase price by manufacturers had been lowered to a minimum of RM1,200 per metric tonne since 2014.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Muda Farmers Organisation for E1V Bukit Besar, Aswadil Khairi Che Omar, said that farmers appreciate the government’s concern in raising the floor purchase price of padi, thereby boosting their morale to continue farming.
“We are grateful because the subsidy incentive under the Padi Price Subsidy Scheme has also been increased from RM360 to RM500 since last August. If combined, it has become RM1,800 per metric tonne of padi,” he said.
