RM2.10 diesel price could lower paddy farming costs, but operators face high expenses

The potential for a sustained diesel price of RM2.10 per liter to reduce paddy cultivation costs in Malaysia's MADA region is seen as a significant benefit by local farmers. Che Ani Mat Zain, chairman of the Farmers Action Committee in the MADA area, stated that maintaining this diesel price for an extended period would be crucial for the success of this cost-saving measure.

Mat Zain explained that while the prospect of lower fuel costs is welcome, the current operational expenses for machinery operators involved in paddy planting mean that immediate reductions in farming wages are highly improbable. These operators have long shouldered high costs, making swift adjustments difficult.

Farmers in the region are still grappling with increasing expenses across various aspects of their work. The potential relief offered by a stable, lower diesel price could provide much-needed breathing room, but the broader economic pressures on the agricultural sector remain a significant challenge.

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The current wage rate for plowing or harvesting is extremely difficult to reduce immediately because machinery operators have long borne high operating costs.