JERLUN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today distributed a one-off RM600 aid to 325,518 padi farmers nationwide for three months, while waiting for harvesting season, with a total allocation of RM150 million.
Najib said the aid proved the Barisan Nasional (BN) government’s recognition of the paddy farmers’ sacrifices in producing the staple food for Malaysians despite facing various hurdles such as unpredictable weather and the threats posed by pests.
He said the one-off aid is meant to ease the farmers burden while waiting for the harvesting season in three months time, on top of the various annual subsidies and incentives totalling RM1.69 billion for the padi cultivation sector nationwide.
"We must recognise the padi farmers because they are special. They toil the land to produce the country's staple food despite various challenges from uncertain weather such as drought and floods to threats posed by pests, and more.
"Unlike rubber tappers and other activities which provide a daily or monthly income, padi farmers have to work on the land on a daily basis but have to wait for 90 days before they could yield their harvest," Najib said.
Present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Muda Agricuture Development Authority (Mada) chairman Datuk Othman Aziz, who is also Deputy Finance Minister and Jerlun member of Parliament.
Najib added that he is obliged to assist Mada in every possible way to continue the legacy of his late father and second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak, who had set up Mada in 1970 to improve the padi cultivation sector in Kedah.
"It is an emotional event for me as it was Mada was the brainchild of my late father. Today, I am here at the Mada site to continue his legacy in uplifting the livelihood of padi farmers in Kedah, which makes up some 40 per cent of the total national padi production.
"I am committed to help Mada achieve the target to increase the padi yield in the Mada area from an average 6.1 metric tonnes per hectare to 8 tonnes per hectare to help the farmers to achieve the RM48,000 annual income target," he said.
Before concluding his speech, Najib announced that he would increase the quantum of the cash aid for padi farmers while waiting for the harvesting period, should the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition be returned to power with a bigger mandate in the next general election. -- Reporting by Adie Suri Zulkefli, Petah Wazzan Iskandar and Aizat Shariff