KUCHING: The Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development has welcomed the federal government’s initiative in providing assistance or incentives to paddy farmers.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom commended the initiative as it helps in encouraging the paddy farmers to continue planting paddy and improve the self-sufficiency level (SSL) for rice.
“Production based incentives should be given higher priority. In Sarawak, we have hill paddy farmers who produce rice of premium quality for their own consumption and whatever surplus they have is for sale.
“I hope this 2023 Budget does cover our hill paddy farmers who need assistance in the form of fertilisers to improve their yield.
“More than that, we are requesting the federal government to allocate more fund for Sarawak to develop basic and tertiary paddy farm infrastructures, which can enhance mechanisation,” he said in a statement, yesterday (Feb 26).
Dr Rundi also expressed his appreciation to Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) for its willingness to chip in to support paddy farmers.
During the revised 2023 Budget announcement, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said BERNAS will share profits from rice imports by contributing 30 per cent of its net profit to rice farmers.
Dr Rundi also lauded the move to raise the activation price level of the Rubber Production Incentive from RM2.50 to RM2.70 per kg as a good initiative to encourage people to tap rubber.
“However, I think it is not enough to bring back many rubber smallholders to their rubber gardens.
“Affordable new technology or tapping instruments need to be developed or invented to enhance efficiency and productivity.
“Modern technologies may be able to encourage the younger generation to tap rubber, replacing their aging parents,” he said.
He added that rubber-based downstream industries should emulate BERNAS by setting aside a portion of their profit to rubber upstream industries.
As for the monsoon aid for smallholders, Dr Rundi said the increase in the amount is very much welcome but needs to be well targeted to benefit the right recipients.
