JASIN – The targeted incentive relief introduced for the agriculture and food industry sectors is one of the areas to be strengthened to achieve the 2021 goal of significantly increasing food production.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah said the effort aims to guarantee food security so that the country can cease being dependent on imports and is capable of producing its own products.
He said the ministry is serious about ensuring that the industry continues to grow through the Budget 2021 allocations for farmers, planters and fishermen, especially in the commodity sector involving padi and agriculture produce.
“Among them, the government has provided the Padi Price Scheme of RM570 million, Fertiliser Subsidy Scheme and Padi Production Incentive (RM960 million), and Hill Padi Fertiliser Subsidy (RM40 million).
"The government is also focusing on agriculture products through the implementation of programmes. The programmes will be organised by departments and agencies from the Farmers’ Organisation Authority, Agriculture Department, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, and so forth,” he said in his speech at the launch of the MR 303-variety padi harvesting programme in Kg Tedong today.
He said the government has also provided an allocation of RM80 million for the Agro-Food Agriculture Disaster Fund, expected to benefit farmers, padi planters, breeders and fishermen affected by natural disasters.
He said the distribution will be done after the ministry’s assessment, with a focus on groups badly affected by floods during the monsoon season.
Meanwhile, Ahmad said, based on MR 303 padi harvests in the area, it is proven that Melaka has the potential in becoming a padi-growing state after several places were identified as suitable for the cultivation of this type of padi variety.
“The MR 303 padi variety has several advantages, including generating up to 10 tonnes per hectare, and as such, we have recommended that farmers employ optimal land use for this padi variety,” he said. – Bernama, November 28, 2020
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