The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) is targeting 2,856 smallholders to exploit 8,492 hectares of untapped rubber plantations in Selangor through the Rubber Productivity Improvement Programme (GPPG) campaign in the state.
Risda’s Productivity and Marketing Division Director Noor Azan Mohd Noor said the implementation of the GPPG (Gerakan Peningkatan Produktiviti Getah) campaign is important to ensure the collective family income target of RM4,500 per month for smallholders by end 2025 can be achieved for the well-being of the smallholders community.
“For this GPPG campaign, Risda is targeting approximately 533,000 hectares of rubber plantations that have not been tapped, to benefit a total of 221,859 smallholders across the country.
“For the state of Selangor alone, according to the Risda’s census in 2013, approximately 40.15 per cent of the total number of 7,113 smallholders, i.e. 2,856 people, own rubber plantations that are not tapped. This covers 3,410 hectares out of a total of 8,492 hectares in the state of Selangor,” he said.
He was speaking after officiating at the GPPG programme and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Convention at the 2023 Selangor state Risda event at Shah Alam Convention Centre here today.
Also present were Selangor Risda Director Norliza Abdul Shukor, Selangor Risda Deputy Director Mohd Zulhelmi Ismail as well as nearly 500 smallholders from all districts in the state.
Noor Azan said the GPPG campaign, which is now activated across the country, is to stimulate the production of rubber products by smallholders with a special focus on various assistance packages offered.
“Through the GPPG campaign, Risda has introduced an assistance package for the Mature Rubber Scheme (SGM) starting at RM7,700 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM8,400 in Sarawak and Sabah.
“This includes assistance components from levels one to five with additional assistance from SGM Rubber Replanting," he said.
He explained that Risda also welcomes all land owners who do not know how to cultivate their land to visit the nearest Risda office to get accurate information and advice on the various assistances offered through the Rubber Replanting Programme.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency