IADA To Open Counters To Help Padi Farmers Apply For Special Diesel Permit

KLANG,  May 15 (Bernama) -- The Northwest Selangor Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA) will open special counters at four locations, including Sekinchan, from May 19 to 21 to assist padi farmers and padi machinery operators in applying for special permits to purchase diesel.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the move was taken following complaints from padi machinery operators who claimed they were only permitted to purchase 20 litres of diesel per day, despite harvesting operations requiring much higher fuel consumption.

“To apply for 200 litres of diesel per day, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) may consider it, as this matter falls within its jurisdiction, even though diesel is also used in other industries.

“The Northwest Selangor IADA will open counters at four locations on May 19 to assist padi farmers, including those who wish to apply for the special permit,” he told reporters after the launch of the Kota Raja parliamentary constituency Smart Pineapple Harvest Pilot Project here today.

The media reported yesterday that some 6,000 hectares of padi fields in Sekinchan, Sungai Leman, Sungai Nipah and Pasir Panjang are at risk of being affected after padi machinery owners faced difficulties in obtaining diesel supplies.

Should the fuel supply issue not be resolved immediately, the situation involving about 2,900 padi farmers is expected to affect padi production by up to 42,000 tonnes per season.

On rice supply, Mohamad said the current supply remains stable and is expected to be adequate until the end of this year.

“The stock is stable until the end of the year, and by January next year we will of course have efforts in place to stabilise it further. Don’t buy in large quantities and do not panic,” he said.

Earlier in his speech at the programme, Mohamad said the success of the first harvest under the project proved that strategic cooperation between the government, industry and the community could have a significant impact on the people’s economic development and strengthen the country’s food security.

He said the project, which began in August 2024, saw the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) supply more than 392,000 MD2 pineapple seedlings to 13 participants, covering a planting area of 10.40 hectares.

Mohamad said that based on the estimated costs and returns for the MD2 pineapple plantation project covering an area of 2.4 hectares, the project was expected to generate gross income of RM357,840.

“More impressively, the project’s net profit is estimated at about RM173,534, with a potential monthly net income of RM9,641. This achievement clearly shows that the premium pineapple industry has strong potential as a sustainable source of income and can help improve the economic status of local farmers,” he said.

Mohamad also stressed the importance of sustainability to ensure that such agricultural projects could continue in the long term and not come to a halt midway.

--BERNAMA