KENINGAU: Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the government had allocated RM297 million under NKEA for 2011-2013 to assist smallholders to replant oil palm in the country.
He said this was also to strengthen the smallholders by increasing farm productivity through replanting programs and the establishment of cooperatives and the creation of sustainable palm oil clusters according to good agricultural practice.
Under this program, he said a relief of RM9,000 per hectare was being provided by MPOB for smallholders in Sabah and Sarawak.
This assistance is in terms of quality supply of palm seedlings, agricultural inputs and advisory guidance for crop management in accordance with good agricultural practices.
Dompok in his speech when launching the Sustainable Palm Growers Cooperative and the delivery of aid to tobacco farmers here yesterday said the government encouraged such strategic steps such as palm tree felling that was 25 years old and above and to replant with quality oil palm trees to ensure high quality yields.
“In addition, smallholders who qualify can receive assistance in farm maintenance of RM500 per month for two years. Smallholders are encouraged to keep in touch with officers from MPOB TUNAS to implement good agricultural practices,” he said.
Dompok said to encourage the participation of smallholders to increase yields and to improve the socio-economic status of the rural population, the government had targeted the establishment of seven cooperatives this year in Keningau Sabah, Teluk Intan Perak, Kuala Langat Selangor, Maran Pahang, Marudi Sarawak, Port Dickson Negeri Sembilaan and Yong Peng Utara Johor.
In addition, he said MPOB had established Sustainable Palm Growers Cooperatives where until December 31 last year, 15 cooperatives had been established across the country covering Sabah, Sarawak, Malacca, Penang, Johor, Pahang and Perak.
He said Sabah has six cooperatives established, namely in Keningau,Tongod, Kinabatangan, Kunak, Tawau and Beluran.
At the ceremony, Dompok also presented government assistance to several smallholders and a mock cheque of RM530,000 to 106 farmers as aid to tobacco growers.
Present at the function were Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Justin Guka, Malaysian Palm Oil Board director-general Datuk Dr Choo Yuen May, National Kenaf and Tobacco Board director-general Ahmad Loman, officers of agencies under MPOB, heads of state and federal government departments.