KUALA LUMPUR, February 9 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government will raise the paddy purchase floor price next week, with additional subsidies to ensure no burden on consumers. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu will present a ministerial paper to clarify the increase, which is expected to boost the floor price and support local paddy farmers.
Anwar assured that the government will allocate an additional RM150 million over the next six months to offset the price increase, ensuring no rise in local rice prices for consumers. In response to calls from paddy farmers to raise the floor price from RM1,300 to RM1,800 per metric tonne, Anwar emphasized the government’s commitment to balancing the needs of both farmers and consumers.
He also highlighted recent efforts, including subsidies and new schemes like the Paddy Crop Takaful Scheme, to support the agricultural sector. Addressing concerns about production costs, the Prime Minister mentioned a RM1 billion program by the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) to enhance paddy productivity, aiming to meet local demand more efficiently.
