TENOM: The State government through the Sabah Rubber Industry Board (LIGS) will allocate a total of RM7 million for rubber cluster planting projects.
Of the amount, RM2.8 million will be for the implementation of the rubber cluster new planting project covering 200 hectares of land and involving 70 rubber smallholders in the Tenom district including Kemabong next year.
The rest totalling RM4.2 million will be allocated for the implementation of the rubber cluster replanting project covering 300 hectares of land at the rubber settlement schemes in Lagud Sebrang, Tenom and Kuala Tomani, Kemabong.
Rural Development Minister Datuk Radin Malleh said this when closing a rubber tapping course at Kampung Mas Langat balai raya in Tenom on Wednesday.
Sixty four rubber smallholders from Kampung Mas Langsat, Kampung Nalansitan and Kampung Mosolog in the Mukim Melalap received certificates from the minister after completing the 10-day course which was organised by LIGS.
According to Radin, the government would spend RM14,000 in development costs on each hectare of land over the next five years for land clearing and terracing, planting, fertilising and caring for the rubber trees.
“When the trees are mature, the government will hand over the land to rubber smallholders,” he said.
Radin, who is also the Melalap Assemblyman, said that since January 2012 until August this year, the State government had allocated RM8.14 million to implement the rubber cluster new planting project covering 581.9 hectares of land and involving 192 rubber smallholders in the Tenom district.
During the same period, RM15.587 million was allocated for the rubber cluster replanting project covering 1,113.39 hectares of land and involving 210 rubber smallholders in the Tenom district including Kemabong.
As of August 2014, Radin said there were 27,607 rubber smallholders in Sabah with 77,737.69 hectares planted with the crop.
“The Tenom district (including Kemabong) leads other districts in the State with 9,793 hectares planted with rubber and 2,149 rubber smallholders,” he said.
“At present, the average monthly net income of the rubber smallholder in the Tenom district (including Kemabong) is between RM900 and RM1,200.
“This proves the government is on the right track in its efforts to reduce poverty among the rural population in the State,” he said.
Meanwhile, Radin advised rubber smallholders in the state particularly those in the Tenom district to sell their produce to LIGS to prevent them from falling prey to price manipulation by middlemen and rubber purchasing agents.
Also present were Tenom district officer Madiyem Layappan, Melalap community development leader Simon Mamat, LIGS deputy general manager (administration) Tarawih Rokot, political secretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Stanis Buandi and Tenom LIGSsuperintendent Atin Maspat.
– newsabahtimes.com.my
