KUALA LUMPUR: Rubber and oil palm smallholders areencouraged to plant cash crops to raise their income and at the same time ease the burden caused by the rising cost of living, said Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
He said the planting of crops such as chilli could bring quick returns and reduce the smallholders’ dependence on a particular crop only.
“We want to raise the capacity of the smallholders by increasing their side income which would benefit them significantly. We hope RISDA (Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority) can help in implementing the planting of the cash crops this year,” he said when delivering the RISDA New Year 2014 message at the RISDA Headquarters, here yesterday.
Also present were his deputy, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi and RISDA Director-General Datuk Wan Mohamad Zuki Mohamad.
A total of RM490 million was allocated for Risda this year as operating expenditure including cash crop planting activities.
Mohd Shafie said that the much higher income generated would also attract the participation of the younger generation in the agricultural sector.
Meanwhile, he hoped RISDA could also continue to undertake studies to expand the usage of rubber products besides the study to raise the smallholders’ productivity.
He said the rubber industry network must be widened so that it could bring higher returns to the smallholders, consumers and nation.
Mohd Shafie reminded RISDA staff to continue to carry out their task with integrity and prudence to avoid leakages besides strengthening the management of the agency.
Meanwhile speaking at a media conference, the minister emphasised on the aspect of land ownership by RISDA to ensure that it had permanent income.
“This is the difference between RISDA and FELCRA. Our land bank is limited everywhere. We must have a land bank to ensure we have the capacity,” he said, adding that the Ministry was identifying suitable land for the purpose.
At the function, he handed over RISDA’s development allocation of RM792.6 million to Wan Mohamad Zuki and the umrah incentive for smallholders to 26 recipients comprising the earliest participants for the Replanting Programme. - Bernama
