AGRICULTURE and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said padi farmers will still be paid RM1,700 per tonne as the government has maintained the subsidy of RM500 per tonne. 

He said the Padi Price Subsidy Scheme of RM500 per tonne for farmers would continue and the government had set the floor price for padi purchase at RM1,200 per tonne since 2014. 

This meant that the government only set the minimum purchase price of padi while cultivators were free to set their own purchase price provided it was not less than the set floor price. 

“The government is still giving the Padi Price Subsidy Scheme incentive of RM500 per tonne to rice farmers thus ensuring each rice farmer will get RM1,700 per tonne even though the miller sets padi at the floor price,” he said. 

Earlier, the local media reported complaints from padi farmers who were disappointed by the actions of a miller who lowered the purchase price of padi from RM1,700 per tonne to the floor price of RM1,200 per tonne today. – Bernama, October 4, 2023.