Rubber smallholders windfall
Datuk Yahya Hussin |
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Sabah, Datuk
Seri Panglima Hj Yahya Hussin today express his happiness for the rubber
smallholders in the state for the higher income enjoyed by them.
Yahya said, the International price of Standard Malaysian
Rubber 20 (SMR 20) has increased from its low of RM4.70 cents per kilogram
early last year to today at RM9.68 per kilogram. The increase in price is
due to a short supply in the world market due to flooding in Southern Thailand.
He expressed his hope that the International rubber price will be maintained.
Yahya said, as a result, the smallholder rubber prices in
Sabah has increase from a low of RM1.50 per kilogram for cuplumps at 50%
dry rubber content to a high of RM3.75 per kilogram as of today. The
increase has resulted in rubber smallholders earning between RM2,500.00 per
month to RM7,000.00 per month.
Yahya reminded the smallholders that the government has a social
safety net policy in place for rubber smallholders called the Rubber Production
Incentive (IPG). The IPG is paid when the farm gate price falls below RM2.20
per kilogram for cuplumps (50% dry rubber content) or when the international
SMR20 price is below RM5.50 per kilogram. It means that if the actual price
of cuplumps (50% dry rubber content) is RM1.50 per kilogram, the Government
will top up the difference of 0.70 cents per kilogram. The Federal
Government has paid RM22,001,182.00 to rubber smallholders in Sabah from
September 2015 to October 2016 through Sabah Rubber Industry Board under this
programme.
Yahya thank the Federal Government specially The Prime Mininter,
Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak for assisting rubber smallholders in
Sabah during the difficult times. A total of 13,426 smallholders
benefit from this policy.
Yahya also gave examples of the earnings of smallholders in
December 2016 in the various districts.
Districts Smallholders Amount
RM
Tuaran
Podok bin
Sualan
6,476.75
Nabawan
Angkimis
Ampait
6,935.30
Tenom Tham
Swee
Min
5,946.35
Keningau Michael bin
Asang
8,547.95
Kota
Marudu Patrik
Kambingi
5,823.75
Kota
Belud Sail
bin
Serlesig
4,971.90
Sipitang Alis
bin
Baru
4,035.45
Yahya also expresed his thanks to Prime Minister for giving
funds to rubber smallholders for replanting and newplanting of rubber through
the Sabah Rubber Industry Board amounting to RM321,217,238.00 from 2012 to
2016 to plant 26,518 hectares of rubber in Sabah. A total of 8,540
smallholders were assisted under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA)
programme.-AG
In 2017, the Federal Government has allocated RM65,500,000.00 to
further replant and new plant 3,856 hectares and maintain planted
areas through Sabah Rubber Industry Board. A total of 1,285
additional smallholders will be assisted in 2017.
Yahya thank the Prime Minister for all assistance provided to
Sabah Rubber Smallholders through Sabah Rubber Industry Board.
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