Latest news with #Act634
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Farmers' incentives to be paid out by July 31
PUTRAJAYA: The government will ensure that all payments for the ploughing and harvesting incentives to farmers are completed by July 31, says Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu (pic). He said the total amount of the incentive was RM210, comprising RM160 for ploughing and RM50 for harvesting. He added that the matter had been discussed at the Cabinet Committee on National Food Security Policy (FSCC) Meeting 1/2025, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on June 16. 'The meeting focused on strategic initiatives to strengthen the country's food security and boost the growth of the agriculture and agro-food sectors. 'Various other initiatives were also discussed, including strategies to increase the country's self-sufficiency rate (SSR) for beef and buffalo meat to ensure sustainability of the nation's food supply,' he said in a statement, Bernama reported. On June 11, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) announced an increase in the ploughing incentive rate and introduced a harvesting incentive, providing total cash assistance of RM210 per hectare to padi farmers each season, benefiting around 130,000 farmers across the peninsula. Mohamad also said the government welcomed the development of the Malaysian Food Composition Database as a strategic component of the National Food Security Policy. He said the meeting had also agreed in principle to explore effective strategies to reduce dependence on grain corn imports to ensure the industry's sustainability and growth. 'In addition, the proposed amendment to the Protection of New Plant Varieties Act 2004 (Act 634) will be implemented to provide more comprehensive protection for new plant varieties.' Mohamad said policy planning would continue to be strengthened based on the findings of the 2024 Agricultural Census Interim Report for the agricultural sector's growth. He said that as part of efforts to modernise the agricultural sector, the strategic cooperation between KPKM and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia will be enhanced with the introduction of the Remote Pilot Certificate of Competency – Agriculture Light syllabus for private unmanned aircraft systems.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Incentives for farmers to be disbursed by end of July
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will ensure that the disbursement of new and revised incentives for farmers is completed by July 31 to strengthen Malaysia's food security and agricultural sector. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said among the incentives were the ploughing incentive that was increased from RM100 to RM160 per hectare per season, and a new harvesting incentive of RM50 per hectare per season. He said the decision was made following a meeting with the Committee on National Food Security Policy (JKKMN), chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, on June 16. "These incentives reflect the government's commitment to supporting our farmers and ensuring food supply sustainability. All payments will be completed before the end of July," He said the meeting also focused on strategic initiatives to reduce import dependency, boost local food production and accelerate modernisation in agriculture. Among them was a proposal to improve the country's self-sufficiency rate in beef and buffalo meat, as well as support for the development of the Malaysian Food Composition Database (MyFCD) as part of the National Food Security Policy. Mohamad said the government had agreed in principle to explore strategies to reduce reliance on imported grain corn, a key input in livestock farming. "In addition, amendments will be made to the Protection of New Plant Varieties Act 2004 (Act 634) to provide more comprehensive protection for new plant varieties." He added that findings from the 2024 Interim Agriculture Census would guide future agricultural policies and development. To modernise farming practices, the ministry is working with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia to introduce a new syllabus for the Remote Pilot Certificate of Competency — Agriculture Light (RCoC-AL), targeting individual drone and unmanned aircraft system operators in the agriculture sector.
