Resilience Package: Paddy Farmers Relieved by RM500 Aid to Cover Agricultural Costs

Block D, K, P and V Paddy Border Village Chief, Tanjong Karang, Juraimi Osman said the aid is eagerly awaited by paddy farmers due to the rising prices of agricultural goods which have burdened them.

“Agricultural costs such as fertilisers and other necessities have never gone down. So, the RM500 per hectare assistance announced by Dato’ Menteri Besar is indeed very helpful and that is what farmers have been hoping for,” he told Media Selangor.

Juraimi, who also cultivates paddy and melon crops, explained that the initiative will be used to cover the purchase of pesticides, fertilisers and various other agricultural needs.

Seri Tiram Jaya Village Chief, Tanjong Karang, Norhizam Jani said the assistance lightens the burden on paddy farmers, especially the cost of diesel for operating agricultural machinery.

“The cost of agricultural inputs is currently quite high, including diesel costs for operating machinery. So this assistance can somewhat reduce the burden they bear,” he said.

He also expressed hope that the assistance would be channelled directly to those who actually cultivate the paddy fields, rather than to landowners who rent out their plots.

Seri Tiram Jaya Village is among the largest paddy farming areas in Tanjong Karang, covering more than 400 paddy cultivators. It is estimated that nearly 80 percent of the residents are paddy and agricultural cultivators.

On 23 June, Agriculture Exco Dato’ Ir Izham Hashim said the assistance would be credited to recipients’ accounts after screening by the District and Land Office, the Agriculture Department, the Farmers’ Organisation Authority and the Integrated Agricultural Development Area.

“They will receive RM500 per hectare, so if they have 10 hectares, they will get RM5,000. It is now in the final process and payment will be made soon,” he was quoted as saying.

Selangor has allocated RM355.06 million to implement two phases of the Selangor Resilience Strengthening Package to face the supply crisis following the conflict in West Asia.

A total of RM145.8 million has been provided for seven initiatives in Phase 1, while the remainder is for Phase 2, which includes 15 new initiatives announced on 19 June.

Media Selangor