Ministry to help rubber smallholders earn side income
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking for alternative type of crops and livestock that are suitable for planting and rearing in the smallholders’ farms so that they can supplement their income with the fall of the rubber price.
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said with the low market price for rubber, the smallholders’ dependence on rubber as the only source of income was very worrying.
“Therefore, we need to find how we can help them increase their side income.
“Coincidentally I was from the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry.
“We will look at appropriate crops and livestock for planting and rearing at their rubber farms,” he said at a press conference after attending a briefing and opening ceremony of the RISDA Gallery at the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) headquarters on Friday.
Also present were the secretary general of the ministry, Datuk Seri Ibrahim Muhamad, RISDA director general Dato Sri Wan Mohamad Zuki Mohamad and his two deputy director-generals, Datuk Mohamat Muda (development) and Datuk Mohamed Alang Abdul Hamid (management and corporate).
According to Ismail Sabri, the low price of rubber at around RM5 per kilogramme is beyond control of the government. It is determined by the buyers.
However, he said the ministry is holding discussions from time to time with the authorities in Thailand and Indonesia in an effort to stabilize the market price of the commodity.
“Therefore, we are studying the type of crops and livestock, especially those with high demand, for planting and rearing in the farms of smallholders,” he said.
Ismail Sabri also said that his ministry would cooperate with the related agencies to make these efforts a realization.
In addition, he will also provide support to smallholders to involve in entrepreneurship so that they can generate additional income.
“This initiative should be looked into in details because we do not want the crops and livestock to affect the rubber production,” said Ismail Sabri.
The RISDA Gallery exhibits the pictures of activities of RISDA and equipment used by smallholders.