Kuala Lumpur: Farmers in Perlis and Kedah have welcomed the adjustment of the padi purchase floor price to RM1,500 per metric ton, announced today by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, as a sign of the federal government's commitment to their welfare.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in Perlis, Shahidan Ismail, a 62-year-old farmer from Kampung Banat, Arau, expressed relief over the new floor price, especially after losing crops to floods last December. "My five-relung padi field was affected by the floods. I lost over RM5,000. This announcement brings some relief, and I thank the government for their concern for farmers like us," he remarked.

Another farmer, Nazari Basri, 41, from Kampung Pulau Lincai, Arau, also expressed gratitude towards the government for addressing the farmers' difficulties post the December floods. Nazari, who faced losses of over RM2,000 due to flood damage to his two-relung padi field, noted that the announcement has boosted his morale.

Meanwhile, Perlis Agriculture, Plantation, and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Razali Saad stated that the state government considers the newly announced padi purchase floor price a positive measure to alleviate operational costs for farmers. He mentioned that the RM1,500 price, an increase from RM1,300, is a commendable move and thanked the government for this initiative.

During a ministerial briefing on the state of the country's rice and padi industry in the Dewan Rakyat, Mohamad Sabu announced that the floor price would rise from RM1,300 to RM1,500 per metric ton, effective this Sunday. He confirmed that the price of local white rice would stay at RM2.60 per kg, with the government covering approximately RM150 million in production costs over six months.

Razali further indicated that the new floor price would benefit 8,743 farmers within the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) region and 6,788 farmers outside it across the state. He also expressed hope that no cartels would attempt to disrupt the market concerning the price of local white rice.

In Alor Setar, the Malaysian Farmers' Brotherhood Organisation (PeSAWAH) expressed gratitude towards the federal government for raising the padi purchase floor price. PeSAWAH chairman Abdul Rashid Yob stated that the previous calls for a price increase were justified due to rising operational costs and a past increase in padi seed prices. He also proposed an additional RM300 padi price incentive on top of the new floor price and urged the government to reduce the controlled price of certified padi seeds.

Hamdi Ahmad, a 40-year-old farmer from Sanglang, welcomed the price adjustment, noting that it would help alleviate the financial burden faced by farmers. Similarly, Mohd Shukor Mustafa, 41, from Kodiang, viewed the revised floor price as a motivation for farmers like him to increase their yield. "We are grateful for this adjustment," he commented.