Uggah: Rubber Production Incentives to be launched next year to help smallholders

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KUCHING: The Rubber Production Incentives (RPI) to be launched in January 2015 will be managed by the State Agriculture Department.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the Federal Government approved RPI would be of assistance to rubber smallholders should rubber prices continue to drop.

“The implementation of RPI is in line with Budget 2015 where the government had announced initial funds of RM100 million for RPI specifically for rubber smallholders throughout the State.

“RPI will be activated when the price level of Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMD) 20 hits RM4.60 per kilo and below. The government will subsidise by about 30 sen per kilo to lighten the burden of rubber smallholders,” he said when making a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in his office at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex on Tuesday.

Uggah led his delegation in briefing Adenan on the implementation of RPI in the state.

He also touched on several programmes launched by his ministry to assist rubber smallholders throughout the country such as a one-off RM500 grant to rubber smallholders this year, replanting of rubber trees subsidy, and planting of new rubber trees subsidy.

“Up until now, the Agriculture Department had recorded around 78,000 smallholders throughout Sarawak including those yet to register with the department.

“Registration efforts will continue to be carried out by the department until yearend to facilitate the channelling of assistance. Smallholders do not have to wait for the issuance of the card, but official receipts of those who qualify will be accepted to ensure the registration process will be completed by the end of this year,” said Uggah.

Adenan expressed his gratitude for the assistance to be provided to rubber smallholders.

He said RPI claims by smallholders does not involve filling in complicated forms, so payment can be prompt to help lighten their burden.

Adenan also advised Uggah to provide assistance to those who need them.