RISDA Focuses On Developing Over 82,000 Rubber Smallholders In Kelantan

By Habsah Ismail

GUA MUSANG, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- The Rubber Industry Smallholder Development Authority (RISDA) is focused on developing ​​178,275 hectares of rubber plantations, involving 82,882 smallholders, in Kelantan.

RISDA chairman Manndzri Nasib said it would be carried out under the agency's Rubber Replanting Programme to boost the transformation of the agriculture sector.

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"In Nenggiri constituency in Gua Musang, it involves 2,071 smallholders with 5,985.76 hectares of rubber plantation in 40 villages, reflecting the rubber cultivation sector as an important economic resource for the people in the area," he told Bernama after a working visit to Gua Musang yesterday.

During the visit, Manndzri met the rubber smallholders and entrepreneurs, including at the Individual Replanting Farm in Kampung Dalam Jelekang, Bertam Agro, 2023 the Internet of Things (IoT) Agrofood Project in Bertam Lama and the packaging workshop for the “cincin” (ring) brand cooking oil in Bandar Baru Gua Musang.

Manndzri said an allocation of RM676 million had been set aside this year to develop rubber smallholders nationwide by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) of which, RM87.71 million was allocated for the 2024 Kelantan RISDA Development Plan.

"The allocation for Kelantan involves five main initiatives, namely for Pembangunan Kawasan Bertanam Getah Pekebun Kecil, which received the largest allocation of RM45.51 million, which include for replanting activities.

"The other initiative, Rubber Productivity Improvement Initiative (PROGET) involves RM4 million, followed by Latex Productivity Improvement (PROTEKS) at RM160,000 and New Revenue Redevelopment, involving RM3.56 million," he said.

According to him, RM1.1 million is also allocated for the Pestalotiopsis Leaf Drop Disease Treatment and Prevention Programme (LDP).

Regarding aid for rubber smallholders in Gua Musang, including in Nenggiri, he said as of the second quarter of this year, RISDA has allocated RM3.3 million to be channelled for the benefit of 6,985 smallholders.

Manndzri said for Nenggiri, a total of RM1.89 million has been disbursed for the benefit of 314 smallholders through the rubber replanting programme, development services, marketing productivity and entrepreneur development.

"A total of RM1.62 million has been channelled through the rubber planting development programme covering ​​595.57 hectares and involving 296 smallholders.

"A total of RM115,420 has been channelled for the LDP programme and RM69,860 for advisory services and guidance in improving the efficiency of rubber plantation management by smallholders," he said.

According to Manndzri, the entrepreneur development programme under the Additional Economic Activities Program (AET) and Agrofood is allocated RM267,250 and will benefit 18 smallholders.

Meanwhile, a smallholder in Kampung Jelekang, Bertam, Nenggiri, Zawiyah Jusoh, 71, said she has been managing her 2.4-hectare rubber plantation for the past 33 years and has benefited from the various initiatives implemented by RISDA.

"I am grateful because RISDA has helped a lot, enabling me to continue to earn income from the plantation left to me by my late husband to raise six children through this agency's Replanting Programme," he said.

-- BERNAMA