KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — The government has agreed to increase the Ploughing Incentive for Padi Farmers (IPKP) rate for the 2026 planting season from RM160 to RM300 per hectare, says Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.He said the incentive, involving an additional allocation of about RM40 million, was among the government’s immediate measures to manage the global energy crisis, while protecting and ensuring the livelihood of padi farmers.“The measure will benefit nearly 200,000 padi farmers, some of whom are expected to begin planting this month.“As additional assistance, last year the Madani Government also introduced a harvesting incentive of RM50 per hectare per season to ease the burden of rising input costs,” he said during a briefing on the global energy crisis yesterday.Akmal Nasrullah said in efforts to improve diesel assistance for targeted groups supplying essential goods, the Madani Government had also agreed to increase the BUDI Agri-Commodities cash aid from RM300 to RM400 per month.He said the new rate would benefit more than 200,000 farmers and smallholders, involving an additional allocation of RM20 million per month.In addition, he said the BUDI Diesel Individual cash assistance rate for eligible Malaysians had also been raised from RM300 to RM400 per month, benefiting about 150,000 individual diesel vehicle owners in Peninsular Malaysia.“The implementation and dissemination of this initiative, involving an additional allocation of RM15 million per month, will be monitored by the Finance Ministry from time to time,” he said.Akmal Nasrullah said in ensuring energy supply, the government, together with Petronas and relevant parties, was working to prioritise supply, including the arrival of supply vessels in Pengerang, Johor, in mid-April. — Bernama