The new rates, said to be 500% more than the current fee paid by the farmers, will likely push up food prices and threaten national food security.
Seremban MP Loke Siew Fook said under the new policy, small-time farmers will need to rent their land from a state agency called Pahang Corporation Sdn Bhd.
He said the farmers will also need to meet several tough criteria for them to renew their leases.
”It would be a heavy financial burden on them. Also, the criteria is very difficult for them to fulfil.
“The farmers are already facing huge problems since March because of the movement control order.
“A lot of their produce could not be transported out as a result,” he said after receiving a memorandum from the Cameron Highlands farmers at Parliament today.
Tanah Rata assemblyman Chiong Yoke Kong said the new policy will adversely affect 2,041 small farmers who currently hold temporary occupation licences (TOL).
“This is the highest rent (for agricultural land) in the country. The RM4,500 rent is a 500% increase from the current TOL fee.
“It seems that the state government is attempting to extract more money from the people instead of guaranteeing food supply and exports for the country,” Chiong said, adding that the farmers’ previous appeals to the state government had fallen on deaf ears.
Meanwhile, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh said the new policy would require farmers to acquire a Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices (myGAP) certification for sustainable farming within 30 months or risk losing their leases.
Their lease will only be extended for an additional two years if they successfully obtain this certification.
“We support the requirement for them to get the myGAP status as it would give added value to the farmers.
“However, after attaining the myGAP status, they should be given a long-term lease.
“We worry that if they don’t get the status, they would be asked to vacate their land. We also worry that as a result, big companies will come in.”
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said the farmers will also need to pay RM2,000 to consultants appointed by the Pahang state government to obtain the myGAP certificate.
He added that the higher costs to the farmers under the policy may result in higher food prices, threatening national food security.