Subsidise cost of fertilisers and pesticides, DAP man tells govt

 

A worker spraying pesticide on crops in Cameron Highlands. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Tanah Rata assemblyman Ho Chi Yang has called on the government to lighten the burden of vegetable farmers by subsidising fertilisers and pesticides, which have been increasing in price lately.

Ho said the increase in costs, driven by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, posed a big financial burden to small-scale farmers.

Ho, of DAP, also reiterated his call for the government to lower rental rates for agricultural land, citing the 500% increase in price — from RM900 per acre yearly to RM4,500 — in Cameron Highlands since 2020.

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“Therefore, the government’s help and support will surely have a positive effect, lowering agricultural costs and the risk of losses,” he said.

Ho Chi Yang.

In the long term, Ho urged the government to encourage farmers to make greater use of technology to raise the standard of agriculture.

This could create a “highly productive” economic sector to help realise Putrajaya’s goal of increasing national food security.

Ho said a lack of information was also a handicap to small-scale farmers who could only make uneducated guesses on what type of vegetables to plant and prevent a surplus.

“If lucky, they will make a profit when certain vegetable prices increase. But if the price drops, growers may suffer losses.”

He said lower vegetable prices, due to vegetable supply currently outpacing demand, have forced many farmers to throw away their harvests to cut losses. - FMT