Mahdzir (front, fourth from left) with participants of the Rubber Smallholders Prosper Programme organised by Risda at Padang Sanai. — Courtesy photo
Rural Development Ministry, through the Rubber Industry Smallholder Development Authority (Risda) aims to increase the area for replanting rubber trees in Kedah by 2,500ha this year.
Its caretaker Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said 1,551ha had been developed so far.
“For the Padang Terap district alone, 351ha have been approved for rubber replanting.
“Meanwhile, for the Batang Tunggang Kiri Mukim area, 88ha have been developed so far, involving 63 smallholders who were given aid totalling RM135,771.
“This ensures that rubber productivity can continue to be improved despite the current uncertain weather and economic conditions,” he said in a statement.
Apart from the rubber replanting programme, Risda also has the Mature Rubber Scheme Programme covering initiatives such as Rubber Productivity Improvement (PPG) and Rubber Productivity Incentive Scheme (SIPG) to help increase the productivity of mature rubber trees.
Close to 100 smallholders have received allocations to manage their farms under PPG and SIPG.
“Risda also provides special funds to further improve the well-being of small-scale rubber farmers even after they have received the initial aid,” said Mahdzir.
“We hope the average income for rubber smallholders will reach RM4,500 a month per family by 2025 through our aid chain,” he said.
Earlier, he attended the Rubber Smallholders Prosper Programme organised by Risda at Padang Sanai.
In a press conference, Mahdzir, who is also Umno vice-president, said the Barisan Nasional manifesto had comprehensive and practical ideas rather than “promising the moon and the stars”.
“Barisan took a realistic approach in drafting the manifesto for the 15th General Election,” he said.
