The Menteri Besar presenting aid package to a recipient.

IPOH, 19 November 2020 - The Perak State Government has launched the COVID-19 Special Farming Project to assist 318 farmers of major food crops affected by the pandemic.

Perak Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said a total of RM856,000 was allocated to provide aid package in the form of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides.

"We expect the fertilizer and pesticide inputs to be distributed to all the selected farmers by the end of next month and initially, we will distribute to the farmers' representatives in Kinta District.

"We hope this aid will to some extent help our farmer heroes and also as moral support to them to continue to fight as frontliners to stimulate productivity in ensuring adequate food supply for the people of Perak," he said at the COVID-19 Special Farming Project Launching Ceremony at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan.

Also present were State Secretary Dato' Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim, State Agriculture, Fisheries, Plantation and Food Security Committee Chairman Dato' Abdul Yunus Jamhari and State Agriculture Department Director Norsiyenti Othman.

Meanwhile, Dato' Seri Ahmad Faizal said based on unofficial data by the State Agriculture Department until 30 October, there was a decline in agricultural production this year due to difficulties in the harvesting process and marketing constraints during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.

"As of 30 October, vegetable and fruit commodities have experienced a significant decline and under the government Agro Prihatin Scheme initiative, the Perak State Agricultural Development Corporation has spent RM2.4 million to buy the excess unsold vegetables from affected farmers," he said.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.