LPP Urges Paddy Farmers To Register For STTP Amid Low Enrolment

TAIPING, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- The government is urging paddy farmers nationwide to participate in the Paddy Crop Takaful Scheme (STTP) as a proactive measure to mitigate the risks posed by natural disasters, including floods, which can disrupt paddy production.

Farmers' Organisation Authority (LPP) chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar emphasised that despite the scheme's launch by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Sept 15, many paddy farmers have yet to register for the STTP.

“We urge all paddy farmers to register for the STTP immediately as for the first two planting seasons, the government is fully funding the scheme's contributions,” he said.

“This opportunity should be fully utilised by paddy farmers to reduce reliance on the Paddy Crop Disaster Fund (TBTP), which has limited assistance,” he said after visiting the shallot cultivation cooperation programme at the Kamunting Correctional Centre, here, today.

Mahfuz added that registering for the STTP offers numerous benefits to farmers, including higher compensation payouts that cover the total area affected by disasters.

“Under the TBTP, assistance is provided only for paddy crops up to 1.2 hectares. In contrast, the STTP offers compensation based on the actual area affected,” he explained.

In September, Agrobank, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), launched the STTP to safeguard paddy farmers against the risks of crop loss due to natural disasters and pestilence, which often threaten paddy crops.

To support this initiative, the government has allocated an initial fund of RM50 million to ensure that affected paddy farmers receive adequate financial protection.

-- BERNAMA