KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 7 (Bernama) — The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) has spent almost RM17.7 million this year on rubber replanting programmes in Terengganu.
State Risda Director Zakaria Mat Zin said the authority had set aside a budget of RM19.8 million for developing the rubber smallholders sector in the state including rubber replanting schemes.
“From the allocation, we have spent nearly RM17.7 million or 89.5 per cent, and the remaining budget will be used up by year-end,” he told Bernama today.
Zakaria said the response towards the rubber replanting scheme in Terengganu was not only encouraging this year but had also surpassed the target of replanting 1,600 hectares.
About 4,604 hectares of land have been earmarked under Risda’s replanting scheme involving 3,900 smallholders in Terengganu.
For next year, Risda is encouraging smallholders to register early for the replanting programme which would cover 1,200 hectares.
Zakaria said rubber output in the state currently stood at 1.2 tonnes per hectare and was envisaged to increase to 1.6 tonnes per hectare by year-end.
— BERNAMA
