KUCHING: A total of 104 farmers in Pantai Damai has received much needed agricultural assistance to help them cope with rising costs on the field.
The Sarawak Department of Agriculture provided RM3,000 worth of assistance to each recipient, with the aim of easing the burden of farmers and supporting agricultural activities.
The assistance was handed out under its Agricultural Facilitation Fund (AFF) programme for the Pantai Damai constituency at Dewan Masyarakat, Kampung Telaga Air here on Sunday (May 17).
Recipient farmers were grateful for the assistance, saying it would go a long way in terms of fertilisers, pesticides and other farming necessities they need.
Illustrating, Latif Hazmi, 59, shared his struggles in being a wholesale vegetable supplier.
“I have 30 acres of land, including vegetables, cucumbers, chilli, okra and long beans, and I have been supplying wholesale to markets,” he said.
He estimated fertiliser volume alone to be more than one tonne per month, accounting for his monthly expenses reaching around RM4,000 to RM5,000.
In pointing out that managing a wide acreage of farmland requires significant resources, he said the assistance provided would be fully utilised within a month.
Fadzil Bujang said likewise, pointing to the rising cost of farm ingredients.
He grows many varieties of crops, from bitter gourd, long beans, cucumbers to chillies, and expects the next harvest within a month.
“Fertiliser prices have recently increased from RM180 to RM215 for a 50kg bag, while many agricultural supplies, such as pesticides, have also risen by around RM8 to RM10.
“Due to the rising costs, I have no choice but to reduce fertiliser usage, although this comes with risks as the crop yield may not be as good as before,” he said.
Though concerned about not having the desirable quality, he expressed gratitude for the assistance given, as it is significant in producing good crops.
“We received wheelbarrows, fertilisers and pesticides. These are very helpful as it provides farmers with complete agricultural supplies thus easing our burden,” he added.
Wan Abdullah Wan Hamid also expressed his gratitude for the assistance given.
“I have been involved in the agriculture sector for more than 10 years, and I grow watermelons and corn on my land,” he said.
Abdullah said that the aid will be very helpful in easing their burden in producing corps.
“I am truly grateful as the support helps ease the heavy burden we have to bear, especially in terms of fertilisers, pesticides, and other farming necessities.
“It has greatly helped and lightened our burden to some extent,” he said.
