Govt to formulate supplementary economic model for rubber tappers

KUALA KRAI: The government is developing a supplementary economic model for smallholders, especially rubber tappers to increase their income.

Deputy Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said the economic model should be designed to address the problems faced by rubber tappers, specifically during the monsoon season.

“We understand that the current situation (monsoon season) is difficult for rubber tappers to do their work, so we need a more comprehensive strategy to help them.

“We cannot set our hopes on a one-off approach, the approach must be thorough, with good integration between rubber and other crops such as pineapples and livestock,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after a meet and greet session with smallholders at SK Chenulang yesterday.

Shamsul said the supplementary economic model may involve activities such as planting pineapples, breeding livestock, as well as trading in other commodities that could provide income to rubber tappers.

“The initiative needs to be sped up so that next year there will be no complaints over the fall in rubber prices that put pressure on rubber tappers, especially at the end of the year.

“We see that they (the tappers) usually tap in the morning until 11.30 am, and after that, they have no further activities. If we add the activity for (growing) another crop, it will certainly bear fruit, for example, planting lime, or tending to poultry farms, breeding cattle, and so on,” he said, adding that the initiative could be implemented within the next nine months.

“Hence, we recommend that cooperatives be established to assist in the provision of capital to farmers for the purpose,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the government would review the Monsoon Season Aid (BMT) for the rubber tappers.

“Previously, there were issues with different names registered on the six-acre (2.4 hectares) plots of lands, whereby each of them requested for the aid, but only one person was working on the rubber plantation,” he said. - Bernama