Abdul Rashid Yob, an activist with Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia, said the current heat wave had caused farmers to postpone planting their next crop.

“Working hours also had to be shortened, disrupting the crop schedule,” he said after the Labour Day parade today.

Fertiliser prices had also increased over the years, raising the production cost of padi farmers, he said.

Abdul Rashid said the rice subsidy allowed farmers to help the government to control the ceiling price of rice.

He said rice remained affordable despite the difficulties faced by farmers in maintaining rice production.

The federal government has allocated RM1.6 billion for padi farmers in this year’s budget.

Rashid’s organisation is an association of 3,000 farmers in Peninsular Malaysia, which works to increase the productivity and income of padi farmers.