The Borneo Post

‘Role of Risda goes beyond rubber industry’

- By James Ling reporters@theborneop­ost.com

KAPIT: The role of the Rubber Industry Smallholde­rs Developmen­t Authority ( Risda) goes beyond the scope of this agricultur­e segment.

According to Deputy Rural and Regional Developmen­t Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, the agency not only helps rubber smallholde­rs replant high yielding trees but also provides training for them, channels funds to selected schools to run tuitions for students sitting for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia ( SPM) examinatio­ns and helps the rural womenfolk to be actively involved in the cottage industry such as handicraft-making to supplement their household incomes.

He said this in officiatin­g at the start of the ‘ Majlis Kasihi Perkebun Risda Sarawak 2017’ at Rumah Edision Bugap Rasin, Jalan Melekun in Baleh near here recently.

The district-level function gathered some 150 guests including Pelagus assemblyma­n Wilson Nyabong Ijang, political secretarie­s to chief minister Nicholas Kudi Jantai and Tapah Ata, Kapit District Office administra­tive officer Robert Anyau and Risda Sarawak director Zulkefli Zaini.

It is learned that there are 500,000 rubber smallholde­rs nationwide who are under Risda’s

Thanks to ‘Program Tusyen Rakyat’, the (SPM) results of students have improved by 10 per cent. For Sarawak, the allocation for the tuition programme is RM275,000 for 22 schools. Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, Deputy Rural and Regional Developmen­t Minister

assistance. The Risda office at Bletih New Township here has seven staff members.

Adding on, Nanta said the agency had allocated RM1,148,300 to groom 147 entreprene­urs nationwide under its Supplement­ary Economic Activities (AET).

This year, the ministry has channelled in RM41,251,421 to Risda Sarawak for the replanting of rubber trees and also its AET – all slated to benefit 45,262 participan­ts.

On the ‘ Program Tusyen Rakyat’, he said the allocation for this year was RM2.46 million for 197 schools nationwide to run tuition classes on five core SPM subjects — Bahasa Melayu, Mathematic­s, English Language, Science and History.

For the Women Rubber Smallholde­rs Group ( PWPK), he said RM 1.56 million had been set aside for 820 PWPKs nationwide.

“Thanks to ‘ Program Tusyen Rakyat’, the ( SPM) results of students have improved by 10 per cent. For Sarawak, the allocation for the tuition programme is RM275,000 for 22 schools.

“For the rural womenfolk, RM18,000 is allocated for 15 PWPKs in Sarawak,” he said.

Nanta, who is Kapit MP, also took the opportunit­y to congratula­te Risda for its success throughout last year.

“It was a successful 2016 for Risda, in which RM393,503,600 was spent on replanting rubber trees in Malaysia. Of this amount, Sarawak received RM48,627,124 for replanting programmes on 1,835 hectares, which involved 1,059 rubber smallholde­rs.”

On the function here, Nanta said it was one among many held by Risda across the state this year to appreciate the contributi­ons of rubber smallholde­rs to the agency, which is under the purview of the ministry.

“The objective of this programme is to get the smallholde­rs to know more about the roles and functions of Risda. For your knowledge, Risda allocates each rubber smallholde­r RM500 whenever the price (of the commodity) falls.

“The event also serves to establish a close relationsh­ip between the smallholde­rs and the agency, and also to serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas as well as the latest informatio­n and technology,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nanta also assured the longhouse residents that he would help in getting their Native Customary Rights ( NCR) be developed for agricultur­e.

According to longhouse chieftain Edision Bugap Rasin, their NCR land had been surveyed but they had yet to receive the land titles.

In this regard, Nanta said: “I hope the (NCR) landowner would foster closer rapport with Risda and also Salcra ( Sarawak Land Consolidat­ion and Rehabilita­tion Authority) to develop their land for agricultur­e. RM13,500 would be required to replant rubber trees per hectare of land.”

Later, Nanta announced RM10,000 for Rumah Edision security and developmen­t committee (JKKK) to purchase fire extinguish­ers for the longhouse, and another RM5,000 to replace the roofing.

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Nanta (third right) arrives at Rumah Edision.
Nanta (third right) arrives at Rumah Edision.
 ??  ?? SMK Kapit 2 senior assistant Sidek Pawi (third left) accepts the mock cheque for RM12,500 from Nanta, witnessed by (from left) Edision, Kudi, Nyabong, Zulkefli and Tapah.
SMK Kapit 2 senior assistant Sidek Pawi (third left) accepts the mock cheque for RM12,500 from Nanta, witnessed by (from left) Edision, Kudi, Nyabong, Zulkefli and Tapah.
 ??  ?? Watson Awan (fourth left), a rubber smallholde­r from Rumah Robert at Nanga Sebatu in Batang Rajang, receives cash assistance from Nanta (third right), as (from left) Youth, Sports and Solidarity Ministry Kapit officer Ratan Tanggal, Edision, Kudi,...
Watson Awan (fourth left), a rubber smallholde­r from Rumah Robert at Nanga Sebatu in Batang Rajang, receives cash assistance from Nanta (third right), as (from left) Youth, Sports and Solidarity Ministry Kapit officer Ratan Tanggal, Edision, Kudi,...
 ??  ?? (From right) Zulkefli presents a memento to Nanta, as (from right) Nyabong, Kudi and Edision look on.
(From right) Zulkefli presents a memento to Nanta, as (from right) Nyabong, Kudi and Edision look on.
 ??  ?? Risda officials and staff members in a memento photo-call with Nanta (standing, eighth right).
Risda officials and staff members in a memento photo-call with Nanta (standing, eighth right).

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