Dato' Sri Fadillah Yusof took the opportunity to visit the Perak Sejahtera 2030 exhibition.

IPOH, 11 November 2023 - The potential of the agrofood sector should be developed as one of the main contributors to the national economy. The focus of the MADANI government now is on the right track to boost and empower the agrofood sector.

Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Sri Fadillah Yusof said this at the National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day (HPPNK) 2023 Launch Ceremony at Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah in Meru here today.

"The significant contribution of the agrofood sector to the Gross Domestic Product in 2022 is RM173.90 billion or 11.5%. The value-add covers agrofood output in the agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors.

"The trend also showed an increasing trade deficit in the agrofood sector in the last three years. The high dependence on food imports reaching RM75.5 billion in 2022 is a challenge that needs to be addressed to raise the country's level of food security," he said.

Also present were Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Perak Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Saarani Mohamad, KPKM Secretary-General Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, State Assembly Speaker Dato' Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid, State Secretary Dato' Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim and State Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee Chairman Dato' Mohd Zolkafly Harun. 

He added that food security is given special focus in the Sustainable Budget Agenda 2024, including raising the rate of the Padi Price Subsidy Scheme from RM360 to RM500 per tonne, and increasing the padi purchase floor price from RM1,200 to RM1,300 per tonne. 

"The government has also started a five-season padi planting pilot effort within two years in several granaries, namely Bota Kiri, Perak; Kangar, Perlis; and Kota Sarang Semut, Kedah, in line with efforts to upgrade the irrigation infrastructure in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA)  area with an investment of RM3 billion; and increasing the subsidy allocation for hill paddy or huma paddy from RM40 million to RM50 million," he said. 

As for the specific subsidies and incentives for fishermen, the government will continue to provide a monthly living allowance of up to RM300 and a Fisherman’s Catch Incentive of up to RM1,000 a month. 

"Also, the government has allocated RM10 million to build and renovate dilapidated fishermen's houses, and maintained the diesel subsidy at the lowest price of RM1.65 per litre to a certain class of fishermen with a quota of 840 million litres a year. 

"Through the Food Security Strengthening Programme, an allocation of RM400 million gives special focus to increase local food production which is still dependent on imported sources," he said at the event.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.