JERLUN: Rice harvester operators were urged to reconsider the proposal to increase the rental price of the machines from RM140 to RM200 per row (0.30 hectares) of rice fields so as not to burden rice farmers.
Fisol Omar, a 61-year-old rice farmer from Alor Biak, said the rent increase was very sudden and did not take into account the actual costs.
He said that the increase should not take place and was disappointed because the increase in lease costs of up to 60 RM per 0.3 hectares was not justified due to increased fuel and spare parts prices.
“This is unreasonable because rice farmers are currently plagued by rice disease and the latest phenomenon is the infestation with ‘Ulat Gulung’ and ‘Padi Angin’, which lead to yield losses of up to 80 percent.
“We have not been able to produce for four seasons (two years). But if the price is increased to RM160 or RM170 per 0.3 hectares, we can accept it again,” Fisol Omar, who cultivates 10 hectares of rice fields, told reporters in Kubang Sepat, Ayer Hitam.
Mohtar Bakar, 64, from Kampung Telok Jawa, however, said the increase in rental fees for harvesting machines was absurd and hoped it would only be decided after a detailed study.
“Considering that the fuel cost for one row has been increased by RM16, so the rental for the machine is RM130 plus RM16, so it is now RM146. For us, the increase was made without proper calculation,” he said.
Mohtar also said that such an increase should not happen as the average entrepreneur is also a rice farmer and knows the difficulties and hardships that farmers are currently facing.
Meanwhile, Abdul Halim Saleh, chairman of Regional Farmers’ Organization (PPK) E2 of Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) of Kubang Sepat, said the proposed rental of harvesting machines at RM200 per 0.3 hectares was causing concern among rice farmers as the harvesting season was approaching.
He said for now, rice farmers can still negotiate with machine operators in their respective areas to determine the reasonable and mutually agreed rent.
“We hope for a good agreement between farmers and machine operators. If the price is RM200 when revenues are falling, we can say it is a burden,” he said, hoping that the government could intervene to solve the problem.
Previously, media reported that harvester operators had proposed increasing the rental price of rice harvesters in Kedah and Perlis from RM140 to RM200 per row (0.30 hectares) of paddy fields to offset the recent increase in various costs.
