Rubber Smallholders to Receive Monsoon Season Assistance
The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) is set to benefit a total of 331,146 rubber smallholders registered with the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) through the Monsoon Season Assistance (BMT) this year.
Breakdown of Participants by State
The participants in the BMT program are divided among the states as follows: Sarawak (51,433), Kelantan (42,978), Kedah (39,604), Pahang (24,237), Perak (19,485), Negeri Sembilan (18,021), Johor (11,913), Terengganu (11,669), Sabah (6,309), and Melaka (4,659). Additionally, there are 1,616 participants in Selangor, Penang (563), Perlis (552), the Sabah Rubber Industry Board (86,323), and the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) (11,784).
Update on BMT Data
According to Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang, the BMT data is updated from June to September every year to ensure that the list is up to date. She made this statement during an oral question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today in response to a question by Kamal Ashaari (PN-Kuala Kurau) on the efforts made by the smallholder whitewashing process carried out through RISDA to ensure that no target group is left out of the BMT.
Efforts to Ensure Rubber Remains a Commodity Crop
Meanwhile, Rubiah said that the KKDW is taking steps to ensure that rubber remains a commodity crop in the country even though the number of rubber farmers is decreasing. She emphasized that the ministry, together with the Ministry of Plantations and Commodities, will ensure that rubber production increases from time to time by providing incentives to smallholders, especially in ensuring that rubber is not only sold in the form of scrap as they have now increased the sale of latex.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Monsoon Season Assistance program is an essential initiative by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development to support rubber smallholders in Malaysia. With the program, a total of 331,146 smallholders are expected to benefit from the assistance. The ministry’s efforts to ensure that rubber remains a commodity crop in the country will also have a positive impact on the economy and the livelihoods of rubber farmers.
FAQs
Q: Who is eligible for the Monsoon Season Assistance program?
A: Rubber smallholders registered with the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) are eligible for the program.
Q: How many participants are involved in the program?
A: A total of 331,146 smallholders are involved in the program.
Q: What are the states with the highest number of participants?
A: The states with the highest number of participants are Sarawak, Kelantan, Kedah, Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Terengganu, Sabah, and Melaka.
Q: How does the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development ensure that rubber remains a commodity crop?
A: The ministry, together with the Ministry of Plantations and Commodities, provides incentives to smallholders, especially in ensuring that rubber is not only sold in the form of scrap as they have now increased the sale of latex.