KOTA KINABALU: The government, through the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda), has allocated RM22.308mil to assist Sabah’s rubber smallholders through comprehensive development initiatives.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said that, in addition to the state-level allocation, Risda Keningau District received RM4.66mil to implement smallholder development programmes.
“This allocation covers three main components: the Rubber Replanting and Supply Program, the Productivity and Marketing Program, and the Extension and Planning Program,” he said when officiating the state-level Makmur Smallholders Program by Sabah Risda for 2026 at SJK(C) Chung Hwa Hall in Tenom on Saturday (Feb 7).
Jamawi said the programme was an initiative by the federal Rural and Regional Development Ministry, through Risda, to ensure rural communities, especially smallholders, receive up-to-date information to increase returns and support sustainable rural development.
“This programme also serves as a high-impact platform to elevate the socio-economy of rural communities in line with the Madani Rural Aspirations,” he said.
He said that smallholder communities must continue to be encouraged and supported through new initiatives to create additional income opportunities and avoid relying solely on rubber yields.
“With the global rubber market becoming increasingly challenging, diversifying income sources is the government’s focus to ensure the economic sustainability of smallholder communities,” he added.
Commenting on challenges in the rubber sector, Jamawi said the 2023 Rubber Smallholders Census recorded 24,443 hectares of mature or tappable rubber plantations in Sabah that are no longer being cultivated.
“This situation contributes to the declining trend in national natural rubber production, which not only affects smallholders’ income but also impacts the rubber commodity sector’s contribution to the national economy,” he said.
In view of the current situation, he said the ministry and Risda continue to prioritise efforts to increase plantation yields and productivity to ensure smallholders remain competitive.
Jamawi also disclosed that Risda Sabah received RM1.5mil specifically to boost the productivity of smallholder rubber plantations in the state.
“Among the initiatives implemented are the Abandoned Rubber Recovery Program, Mature Rubber Yield Program, Latex Production Incentives, and farm infrastructure provision,” he said.
He said that latex production incentives, in particular, can yield higher returns than scrap rubber, thereby increasing smallholders’ incomes.
