Risda Raises Rubber Replanting Assistance To RM23,000 Per Hectare In Sarawak - Zahid

SAMARAHAN, March 14 (Bernama) -- Assistance for the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) Rubber Replanting Programme in Sarawak has been increased from RM14,805 to RM23,000 per hectare, starting this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the implementation of the RM8,195 per hectare or 55 per cent increase is to continue empowering the smallholder rubber sector in the country, particularly in Sarawak.

“The proposed increase has taken into account the current rise in plantation development costs, especially in Sarawak and Sabah, covering input costs, labour, subsidised diesel and plantation management factors.

“This measure ensures that assistance is channelled all the way to the production stage,” he said at the Santunan Kasih Ramadan and Sarawak Risda Smallholders Welfare Programme at the Darul Istiqamah Mosque in Kampung Niup here today.

He added that assistance will be disbursed in five phased instalments, encompassing plantation preparation, provision of seedlings, fertilisers and other soil inputs.

At the same time, he said that the new rates of assistance for Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah would be announced soon.

Ahmad Zahid said the move to increase the rate of assistance is also in line with the government’s efforts to strengthen the rubber commodity market through the diversification of the use of the raw material in various industrial sectors.

He added that Risda, together with several other related agencies, would also continue to expand the use of rubber in various products and new materials to ensure that the commodity market continues to grow.

“We are diversifying the use of rubber, including biodiesel.

“The aim is to secure better markets for rubber materials so that, eventually, rubber tappers and smallholders nationwide will enjoy higher rubber prices in the future,” he said.

-- BERNAMA