Penang approves RM500 one-off aid for 6,572 padi and vegetable farmers
Penang government allocates RM3.29 million in one-off RM500 payments to 6,572 padi and vegetable farmers to support food security and ease cost of living pressures.
The Penang state government will disburse a one-off RM500 cash grant to 6,572 padi and vegetable farmers, at a total cost of RM3.29 million, as part of efforts to ease living costs and strengthen the state's food security agenda.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced the assistance on Friday, 24 July 2026, during a visit to the Penang branch of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) in Kepala Batas, Seberang Perai.
The aid will benefit 5,567 padi farmers and 1,005 vegetable growers across the state. Chow said the Penang State Agriculture Department's list of registered farmers will determine payment, which is expected to be made in the near future.
"Payment of the aid will be made in the near future based on the list of farmers registered with the Penang State Agriculture Department," Chow told reporters.
He said the assistance fulfils the state government's commitment under the Penang Unity Manifesto 2023, particularly Theme 10 on Food Supply Chain Security, which covers cost of living support for padi farmers, vegetable growers and fishermen.
Chow was joined at the event by State Rural Development, Agrotechnology, Food Security and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Datuk Rashidi Zinol, and Mardi deputy director-general for Development and Operations Dr Sanimah Simoh.
Padi and vegetable sector figures
Chow set out the scale of Penang's agricultural sector. The state manages 11,858 hectares of active padi cultivation, farmed by the same 5,567 farmers receiving the aid, with an average yield of 4.69 tonnes per hectare this year. He noted that several areas have recorded exceptionally high padi yields.
For vegetables, Chow said the 1,005 farmers in the sector produced 10,648 tonnes in 2025, a figure he said underscored the farming community's role in ensuring adequate food supplies for the state.
Despite these figures, the sector faces mounting pressure from climate change, rising input costs and labour shortages, prompting the state government to focus on strengthening the agri-food ecosystem through technology and innovation.
Community gardens and Mardi partnership
Chow said Penang has established 384 community and urban gardens, against a target of 500 by 2030. He described the figure as reflecting the state government's commitment to modernising the agricultural sector sustainably through technology.
He highlighted Mardi's role as a strategic partner in developing agricultural technology and transferring knowledge to farmers, padi growers, livestock breeders, fishermen and agro-food entrepreneurs.
Chow singled out the Mardi Centre of Excellence for Rice Research and Innovation in Seberang Perai as a strategic national asset. He said the establishment of a Grain Corn Pilot Plant at the centre marked an important step in developing the local corn value chain.
He also expressed hope that the Technology Information Centre would develop into a comprehensive one-stop hub offering training and advisory services for farmers and agropreneurs.
Chow said the state government would continue strengthening the agro-food sector through initiatives including wider use of technology and modern farming practices, improved productivity, and closer cooperation with the Penang State Agriculture Department, Mardi and related agencies.
He said translating research outcomes into practical, on-the-ground solutions remained central to the state's strategy, with the aim of raising productivity and incomes for producers while developing the state's agricultural sector into a sustainable, high-technology industry.
