Risda smallholders affected by monsoon get RM164.78mil allocation

PETALING JAYA: The Finance Ministry has allocated RM164.78mil to help Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) farmers whose incomes have been affected due to the monsoon season.

Lim Guan Eng said based on the recommendations of the Finance Ministry on Dec 12, the Cabinet has agreed to help 274,639 smallholder rubber farmers. 

He said RM600 would be paid out in two installments to each of the smallholders. 

The first installment worth RM300 would be paid by the end of the year, while the other half early next year, he added.
 
"The difficulties of the Risda smallholders have gotten the attention and the concern of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who approved this Monsoon Season Aid (BMT)," Lim said in a statement on Friday (Dec 21). 

According to Lim, this assistance would help 255,997 smallholders who manage their own farm and 18,642 non-owners rubber-tappers who manage farming areas of not more than 2.5ha. 

He said the Economic Affairs Ministry would be overseeing the RM164,783,400 allocation as it was the one regulating Risda. 

"Hopefully this assistance will ease the burden of the rubber smallholders whose income have been affected," said Lim.