KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 — The advance payment of RM200 per hectare under the Ploughing Incentive for Padi Farmers (IPKP) will ease the financial burden on farmers and ensure smoother preparations for the year’s first planting season.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the initiative saves them the trouble of having to come up with capital.
He noted that under the old system, farmers could only claim the IPKP after ploughing was done.
“This shows that the Madani Government always listens to the grievances and takes into account the views of farmers at the grassroots level,” he said in a Facebook post.
“The government is also committed to continuously improving existing approaches to ensure that the welfare of farmers remains protected, in line with efforts to strengthen national food security,” he added.
Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the government would pay 240,000 padi farmers an advance of RM200 per hectare as part of the Special Ploughing Incentive.
Anwar said the initiative, which was agreed upon at today’s meeting of the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) that he chaired, will involve a financial implication of RM48 million.
Mohamad said his ministry would disburse payments as soon as possible to help farmers better prepare for the planting season.
