GOVT RISES PADI PRICE SUBSIDY TO RM500/MT

RECENTLY MALAYSIAN GOVERMENT rises padi price subsidy to RM500 per metric tonne that was announced by Prime Minister on 8 August 2023. Local media reported that the government will pay a price subsidy of RM500 per metric tonne of padi, starting tomorrow.  Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today announced that the padi price subsidy has been raised from RM360 to RM500 per metric tonne with effective tomorrow. With the increase the Malaysian farmers will receive at least RM1,700 for a metric tonne of padi. This is the biggest increase in history. The rate was increased when I was the finance minister a long time ago. Today he claimed that he did it again and announce it today as he said in Parit Buntar, Perak. Also present was Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu. Anwar said the increase in the rate will involve an annual expenditure of RM1 billion. To address the issue of grading and classification of rice grains, he said discussions will be held with the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to deploy agricultural officers to private rice mills specifically to monitor the process and prevent manufacturers from doing so without adhering to established standards.  Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the Finance Ministry will consider increasing allocations for the implementation of five-season padi cultivation within two years. The RM3 billion allocated for building waterways and related matters is not enough, we need to add more. We will try to do our best for the farmers. At the same event, Anwar also announced assistance of RM21.8 million benefiting 28,295 padi farmers and planters in Perak. The funds was presented to the Perak Farmers’ Organisation chairman Sham Mat Sahat and representatives of area farmers’ organisations. This article ini ''Anim Agriculture Technology'' I share the good news for local padi farmers about the increase in rising padi subsidy price.

In other report titled 'Govt has raised padi price subsidy to RM500 per tonne, says Anwar' from Bernama mention how the government has increased the rate of the Padi Price Subsidy Scheme (SSHP) for the first time after many years, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said the subsidy rate has been increased from the current RM360 per metric tonne to RM500 per metric tonne, the highest increase to date. He said the last time the subsidy rate had been increased was when he was the Finance Minister some 25 years ago. “The subsidy rate will increase starting tomorrow (Aug 9),” he said in his speech at the launch of the state-level Sentuhan Agro Madani event held at Dataran Kerian Permai here Tuesday (Aug 8). Anwar said with this move, the farmers would receive at least RM1,700 per metric tonne, and this would increase their income as well as motivate them to increase production. “The increase in the SSHP rate involves an additional financial implication around RM360mil per year, and the total SSHP allocation will reach RM1bil per year. He says besides that, the government is also committed to review the rice grading mechanism based on the parameters of the factories, namely in terms of the quality, moisture and cleanliness of the rice variety to guarantee a reasonable and fair price to the padi farmers,” he added. He don’t care about what anyone says, for me the priority is to increase the country’s economy, and ensure the people's well-being is taken care of. He wish to bring in investors, where some big names are already in the country. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced an increase in the price of padi subsidies from RM360 to RM500 per tonne beginning tomorrow. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the RM140 increase is projected to involve an additional allocation of RM1 billion per year. This is the first subsidy increase since 25 years ago. He said the announcement would see padi farmers in this country earn RM1,700 per one metric tonne of padi. "The most recent increase (for padi subsidy) was when Anwar Ibrahim was the Finance Minister, 25 years ago. Now that he has become the Finance Minister (again), the subsidy has increased from RM360 to RM500," he said in the third person, when officiating the Perak State Level Agro-civilisation meeting at Dewan Kerian Lermai, here, today and also present was the Agriculture and Food Security Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. Thanks...

By,

M Anem,

Senior Agronomist,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(August 2023).