PARIT BUNTAR: 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.
"Alhamdulillah 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.
Also present was the Agriculture and Food Security Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.