The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) has allocated RM41 million for development programmes in Pahang this year, said its deputy director-general (Development) Ahmad Zainal Abdullah.
He said RM20 million of this has been earmarked for rubber replanting programmes and the matured rubber programme, while the rest is for the implementation of the Supplementary Economic Activitity Programme (AET), agri-food and entrepreneurs, and infrastructure development, among others.
“I, therefore suggest that those who are interested take this opportunity to apply immediately for the support provided, as the year is about to end… otherwise they will have to wait until next year to apply,” he said.
Ahmad Zainal was speaking to reporters after the launch of the Pahang Risda-level Movement to Increase Rubber Productivity Programme (GPPG) and Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) convention, attended by 800 smallholders, here today.
He said individuals with land area of 0.1 hectare or more are eligible to apply for rubber replanting support programme worth more than RM13,000 per hectare, which includes support for farm inputs, transport, infrastructure and advisory services.
In addition, RISDA offers income-generating assistance packages ranging from RM3,000 to RM500,000 for the AET programme, business development, marketing and entrepreneur development, while the agro-food programme offers assistance ranging from RM20,000 to RM300,000.
Meanwhile, he said about 500,000 hectares of rubber plantations across the country were still not being managed for production, including 24,000 hectares in Pahang. “RISDA has been aggressively working to increase rubber productivity this year with the aim of cultivating more than 200,000 hectares of rubber area next year,” he said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency