Soaring fertiliser prices ‘killing’ farmers, says former minister
Salahuddin Ayub said the government should address the gaps and flaws in the agricultural value chain to safeguard the country’s food security. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The government has been urged to provide fertiliser subsidies to farmers struggling to cope with price hikes that have led to rising production costs in the agriculture sector.
Former agriculture and agro-based industry minister Salahuddin Ayub said this is necessary as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has triggered a hike in fertiliser prices on a global scale.
Ukraine is among the world’s leading exporters of fertilisers.
“The government should provide a cash subsidy of RM100 per tonne of agricultural produce to every farmer.
“This can help them offset the price of fertilisers, which has increased from RM120 to around RM200,” he said in a statement today.
The Pulai MP also highlighted the problem of climate change, with heavy rainfall and bad weather badly affecting the agricultural sector, much to the frustration of farmers who may quit altogether.
The government, he added, should respond to the crisis by looking into and addressing the gaps and flaws in the agricultural value chain for the purpose of safeguarding the country’s food security.
“The government must look into three matters — the increasing prices of fertilisers and production cost, the fate of farmers and producers, and the uncertainties surrounding the country’s food security for the future.”
PETALING JAYA: The government has been urged to provide fertiliser subsidies to farmers struggling to cope with price hikes that have led to rising production costs in the agriculture sector.
Former agriculture and agro-based industry minister Salahuddin Ayub said this is necessary as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has triggered a hike in fertiliser prices on a global scale.
Ukraine is among the world’s leading exporters of fertilisers.
“The government should provide a cash subsidy of RM100 per tonne of agricultural produce to every farmer.
“This can help them offset the price of fertilisers, which has increased from RM120 to around RM200,” he said in a statement today.
The Pulai MP also highlighted the problem of climate change, with heavy rainfall and bad weather badly affecting the agricultural sector, much to the frustration of farmers who may quit altogether.
The government, he added, should respond to the crisis by looking into and addressing the gaps and flaws in the agricultural value chain for the purpose of safeguarding the country’s food security.
“The government must look into three matters — the increasing prices of fertilisers and production cost, the fate of farmers and producers, and the uncertainties surrounding the country’s food security for the future.”
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