According to Malaysia's Deputy Minister of Rural Development, the Rubber Industry Smallholder Development Authority (RISDA) has allocated RM508.02 million, or more than US$100 million, to conduct a nationwide rubber replanting program, the country's deputy minister said Nov. 8. The allocation covers rubber replanting, productivity and marketing, new product initiatives and entrepreneurship programs.
He said that in Pahang, RISDA has completed 15,813 hectares of rubber replanting program with a target area of 16,596 hectares. and will achieve the target by the end of the year to ensure the well-being and welfare of small farmers in the state.
He said that so far, rubber planting is one of the only commodities for which the government provides full financial assistance. This does not include the other economic incentives that small farmers receive each year. The increase in subsidy under the National Rubber Replanting Program from the previous RM9,230 per hectare to the current RM13,710 per hectare has had a significant impact on smallholder farmers.
In addition, the government has been providing various assistance to smallholder farmers through the Ministry of Rural Development and RISDA to ease the burden on the people and ensure the well-being of smallholder farmers and their families. Such incentives are provided because the government is aware of the problems faced by smallholder farmers, especially low yields or low production due to bad weather, labor shortage and unstable markets.