Johor: A total of 21,049 smallholders in Johor have benefited from cash subsidies under the BUDI Agri-Commodity programme, an initiative aimed at supporting farmers who form the backbone of the country's agri-commodity sector. Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad announced that the programme, implemented under the MADANI Subsidy Assistance (BUDI MADANI) framework, had received 29,048 applications as of January 31, with applications still open.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, each successful applicant receives RM2,400 in cash assistance to help cushion the impact of rising costs, particularly among those directly affected by the rationalisation of diesel subsidies. The recipients include smallholders cultivating oil palm, rubber, cocoa, pepper, and kenaf, subject to meeting eligibility criteria, such as being Malaysian citizens and registered with agencies under the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK).

The agencies involved are the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM), Malaysian Cocoa Board (LKM), Malaysian Pepper Board (MPB), and the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board (LKTN). Dr Noraini Ahmad, speaking at the BUDI Agri-Commodity Plantation Sector programme in Parit Sulong, highlighted additional conditions requiring smallholders to cultivate land not exceeding 4.5 hectares for private oil palm and rubber plantations, and up to 2.5 hectares for cocoa, pepper, and kenaf cultivation.

Furthermore, smallholders must be actively engaged in continuous production, with annual sales valued between RM50,000 and RM300,000. Meanwhile, subsidy recipient Puziah Ma'an, 57, shared her experience as one of the earliest applicants to receive the assistance, amounting to RM200 per month. She described it as a meaningful government effort to ease the people's burden, noting that the assistance will help cover the costs of replanting oil palm trees that are over 15 years old, which are her family's main source of income.