ALOR SETAR: Padi farmers in the country are urged to register for the Padi Planting Takaful Scheme (skim takaful tanaman padi) to enable them to receive compensation benefits if their crops are affected by disasters, including floods.
Finance II Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the government has allocated RM50mil in premium payments for the scheme this year, and farmers only need to register to enjoy its benefits.
"The scheme is managed by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry through Agrobank and was introduced in 2024 to protect against crop damage due to natural disasters, including floods.
“The scheme, provided free of charge, is part of the government’s commitment to assist and protect rice farmers from the risk of losses due to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, disease outbreaks, and pests that frequently threaten padi crops,” he said.
He told this to reporters after surveying the damage to irrigation infrastructure under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority and padi crop in Kuala Sungai Baru on Saturday (Dec 7).
Amir Hamzah said the coverage rate for damage to the padi crop provided under the scheme is up to RM3,000 per hectare per season depending on the padi planting stage.
Therefore, he urged rice farmers to take advantage of this takaful protection to help them continue farming and contribute to the stability of the country's food supply chain.
The scheme introduced in line with Budget 2024, receives a government subsidy amounting to RM50mil for its first year of implementation.
Meanwhile, he said the government has allocated RM425mil for this year and the next year for flood assistance, including the repair of disaster-affected infrastructure across the country.- Bernama
