Applications for smallholders’ cash aid programme still low, says Johari

 

Plantation and commodities minister Johari Ghani at the launch of the Budi Agri-Komoditi programme with the Kluang community in Kampung Abdul Rahman Yassin in Kluang.

KLUANG: 

The government has received about 66,000 applications for the Budi Agri-Komoditi initiative from smallholders across the country as of Sept 20, says plantation and commodities minister Johari Ghani.

He said the number is low compared with the estimated total number of private smallholders nationwide, adding that of the total applications received, 10,000 comprised appeal cases.

“When we announced the targeted diesel subsidy, we found that many did not register, so many smallholders do not know how to apply.

We have gone to the ground to assist smallholders so that they can share the information with their friends. I have instructed all agencies under the ministry to help them,

 he told reporters after launching the Budi Agri-Komoditi programme with the Kluang community in Kampung Abdul Rahman Yassin here.

Johari said the ministry had conducted 50 small-scale programmes to increase the registration for the Budi Agri-Komoditi initiative, urging elected representatives across the country to engage with smallholders and ensure they do not miss out on the benefits provided by the government.

According to Johari, over 46,000 smallholders in Johor are eligible to apply for the initiative, but only around 1,000 applications have been received.

The Budi Agri-Komoditi programme is an initiative under the Madani Subsidy Assistance Programme, which provides cash assistance of RM200 each month to eligible smallholders of oil palm, rubber, cocoa, pepper and kenaf in Peninsular Malaysia registered under the ministry. - FMT