Increase yield, don’t focus on floor price, padi growers told

 

Padi farmers should increase their yield as the government has never lowered the minimum purchase price, says the Farmers’ Organization Authority.

PETALING JAYA: 

Increasing padi yield will help boost farmers’ income more effectively than relying on an upward revision of the floor price, says Farmers’ Organization Authority chairman Mahfuz Omar.

According to Mahfuz, many farmers produce only about four tonnes of padi per hectare, with some harvesting as little as two tonnes.

“Some produce only two tonnes of padi because they are so focussed on the purchase price.

“When millers purchase padi at RM1,800 per tonne, some farmers feel they don’t need to put in much effort since the price is high. However, that yield is not worthwhile for a hectare of padi land, as others manage to produce between seven and 12 tonnes,” he said, according to Utusan Malaysia.

This could help farmers boost their income, he said, adding that the government has never lowered the minimum purchase price.

“Instead, it has raised the floor price from RM1,200 to RM1,300 per tonne previously. The RM1,800 price was set by the mills,” he said.

Earlier today, Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (PeSawah) proposed that the government increase its subsidies from RM500 to RM1,000 per tonne of rice produced to create a win-win situation for farmers, millers and consumers.

PeSawah chairman Abdul Rashid Yob told FMT this will ease the burden on farmers because of rising operational costs, especially if the government is reluctant to increase rice prices in the market.

He said that if the minimum purchase price remains at RM1,300 per tonne, farmers will suffer losses as production costs have risen by nearly 55%.

On Monday, agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu assured PeSawah that efforts are under way to address the group’s demands in raising the RM1,300 floor price for padi.

Mohamad, also known as Mat Sabu, said he would engage with the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority and the Muda Agricultural Development Authority. - FMT