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PETALING JAYA: A group representing padi farmers has called on the government to revise fuel subsidies for the sector, saying it is inadequate for operators of harvest machinery.

In a statement, Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (Pesawah) said the current mechanism and amount of fuel subsidy provided under the Budi Agro Komoditi scheme is insufficient as the cost of harvesting rice in Kedah is based on the size of the padi fields.

Some harvest machinery operators in Kedah and Perlis are considering raising their service charges to RM200 per relong (0.283 hectare) or RM700 per hectare, compared to the previous rate of RM130 per relong or RM455 per hectare, Pesawah chairman Abdul Rashid Yob said.

Rashid said padi farmers disagree with this new price as they find it unreasonable and not in line with the rise in diesel prices.

A more reasonable price would be around RM140-RM160 per relong or RM490-RM560 per hectare, he said.

The diesel subsidy in Peninsular Malaysia was lifted on June 10, with its price rising from RM2.15 to RM3.35 per litre. The price of diesel has decreased twice since and is now at RM3.24 per litre.

Rashid noted that the agriculture and food security ministry has taken steps to increase the ploughing incentive from RM100 to RM160 per hectare per season. The ministry also introduced a new incentive for harvesting, which is RM50 per hectare per season.

However, he said the ministry has yet to release any procedures regarding incentives for those involved in ploughing and harvesting activities, even though the harvesting season is approaching soon.

He added that in Kedah, the issue has been reported to the Muda Agricultural Development Authority but the response received was disappointing as they too lack any information on the SOPs on how and when these new incentives will be distributed.

He added that many farmers are struggling to cope with the rising costs, which can directly affect national food security.

We call for the mechanism for disbursing these ploughing and harvesting incentives to be finalised and implemented as soon as possible, with the amount increased to RM500 for ploughing and RM300 for harvesting to offset the diesel price hike, he said.