Baznas-assisted farmers in North Sumatra now able to pay agricultural zakat

A group of farmers assisted by the National Zakat Agency (Baznas) in Batu Bara Regency, North Sumatra, has successfully paid agricultural zakat amounting to Rp16 million following a bumper harvest of 150 tonnes of rice. Chairman of Baznas RI, Sodik Mudjahid, expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the achievement, noting that the farmers, who were previously zakat recipients (mustahik), are now capable of becoming zakat payers (muzaki).

Sodik stated that this accomplishment is a crucial part of the zakat empowerment objective, which aims to improve the standard of living for mustahik and gradually transition them into muzaki. He highlighted that the Baznas Food Barn Programme (Lumbung Pangan) aligns with the government’s programmes related to food, water, and energy security.

Batu Bara Regent Baharuddin Siagian also praised the positive impact of the empowerment programme run in collaboration with Baznas. He expressed hope that more local farmers would transition from being zakat recipients to zakat payers.

One of the beneficiary farmers, Rusdianto, expressed his gratitude, stating that prior to receiving Baznas assistance, the farming group often faced capital difficulties. He said the support enabled them to optimise their harvest, meet their family’s needs, and pay zakat on the results. The Baznas Food Barn Programme in North Sumatra has been initiated since 2018, with the assisted farming groups paying a total of Rp423.182 million in agricultural zakat annually since 2024.