RM200 Ploughing Incentive Advance Eases Padi Farmers' Burden - Mohamad Sabu

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Bernama) -- The advance payment of RM200 per hectare under the Ploughing Incentive for Padi Farmers (IPKP) will ease the financial burden on farmers and ensure smoother preparations for the 1/2026 planting season.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the initiative provides farmers with the RM200 payment earlier, saving them the trouble of having to come up with their own capital upfront.

He noted that under the old system, farmers could only claim the IPKP after ploughing works were completed.

"This clearly shows that the MADANI Government always listens to the grievances and takes into account the views of farmers at the grassroots level," he said in a Facebook post.

"The government is also committed to continuously improving existing approaches to ensure that the welfare of farmers remains protected, in line with efforts to strengthen national food security," he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government had agreed to pay an advance of RM200 per hectare, representing part of the Special Ploughing Incentive rate, to 240,000 registered padi farmers nationwide to ease their burden.

Anwar said the initiative, which was agreed upon at today's meeting of the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) that he chaired, will involve a financial implication of RM48 million.

Elaborating further, Mohamad Sabu said he had instructed the Ministry to finalise the payment process immediately so that the advance can be disbursed without delay, thereby helping farmers better prepare for the start of the season.

-- BERNAMA