KOTA BARU: Some 5,368 paddy farmers under the Kemubu Agriculture Development Authority (Kada) will be receiving a monthly RM200 allowance to help them through the pre-harvest season.
The paddy farmers from Bachok, Pasir Mas, Pasir Putih, Tumpat and Kota Baru are expected to receive their allowance soon.
This allocation under Kada, which amounts to more than RM3.2 million, will go to paddy farmers in Bachok, Pasir Mas, Pasir Putih, Tumpat and Kota Baru.
It is part of an initiative announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in October last year of which RM200 will be given to all paddy farmers nationwide for a period of three months as the farmers wait for the next harvesting period.
Kada general-manager Mohd Ridzuan Ismail said he hoped that this assistance would be of assistance to the paddy farmers in Kelantan.
"On behalf of all the farmers in the state, I would like to thank the government for this aid.
"This will reduce their burden," he said, adding that the aid will be distributed on March 27
Ridzuan said the 5,368 farmers from Kelantan comprised 1,153 from south Kota Baru, Bachok (1,141), Pasir Mas (979), Pasir Putih (863), Tumpat (644) and north Kota Baru (588).
A paddy farmer Hussin Mat Yunus thanked the government, especially the prime minister for the assistance.
The 72-year-old father of five from Kampung Talak, Tumpat said he would use the money to support his family.
"When the pre-harvest season arrives, I face difficulties to sustain the family’s daily expenses, so I would like to thank the government for their concern," he said.