MELAKA: A latex collection system that works even in heavy rain will be introduced in Peninsular Malaysia next year, says the Deputy Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the system would help rubber smallholders earn an income during the monsoon.
He said a channel fitted to the trunk of a rubber tree allows latex to flow directly into a covered cup without the need for conventional tapping.
"Even during the rainy season, when smallholders cannot go out to tap their trees, the latex will continue to flow. This will allow them to keep earning an income,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid was speaking at the launch of the Salam Agrikomoditi Madani @Melaka programme at Dewan Hang Lekir in Tanjung Kling here on Tuesday (Nov 3).
He said the technology had undergone 15 years of research with a proof-of-concept trial in Sarawak.
"The trial found that the system yielded between two and two and a half times as much latex as conventional tapping," he said.
Ahmad Zahid added that the government was also stepping up efforts to increase domestic latex production and reduce Malaysia’s reliance on imports, which cost about RM7bil a year.
