Many farmers do not understand, applications for BUDI Agri-Commodity are still low – Johari

KLUANG: The government received more than 66,000 applications from smallholders nationwide for the BUDI Agri-Commodity program as of Sept 20, of which 10,000 were appeal applications.

Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the number was very low compared to the estimated 214,000 private smallholders recorded nationwide.

“When we announced the targeting of the diesel subsidy, it was found that many did not register. So we know that many smallholders do not understand how to apply and finally we went to the field to explain and help them to register.

“We are coming down to help smallholders so that after this, they can also tell their friends. I told all the agencies in this ministry to help smallholders because there may be some areas where there may not be good internet coverage, making it difficult for them to register,” he said.

He said this to the media after launching the BUDI Agri-Commodity program with the Kluang community in Kampung Abdul Rahman Yassin, here today.

So far, Johari said more than 50 small and large scale programs have been implemented by the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) to increase the registration of the BUDI Agri-Commodity program.

He also requested representatives of the people throughout the country to go to the field to help small farmers to ensure that they do not miss out on receiving the benefits contributed by the government.

For the state of Johor, Johari said more than 46,000 smallholders are eligible to apply but only around 1,000 applications have been received so far.

The BUDI Agri-Commodity Program is one of the initiatives under the MADANI Subsidy Assistance Program (BUDI MADANI), aimed at targeting diesel subsidies to smallholders in the agri-commodity sector as well as farmers and breeders.

Through the initiative, smallholders of oil palm, rubber, cocoa, pepper and kenaf who are eligible and registered with agencies under the KPK in Peninsular Malaysia will receive a cash incentive of RM200 per month which is equivalent to RM2,400 per year

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