BERA – Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has given his assurance he will review the rubber market price set for the rubber production incentive (IPG) if he returns to lead the government after the 15th general election (GE15).
The caretaker prime minister said he was aware of many parties requesting to increase the rubber market price, previously set at RM2.50 per kg through IPG.
“(Rubber Industry Smallholder Development Authority chairman) Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Sharif also raised the issue in Parliament. I have seen many requesting that the rate of RM2.50 be increased. I have also discussed it with the finance minister.
“We will look into this matter, Insya-Allah. If we are given the mandate to govern again, we will look into this matter,” he said.
He said this when officiating the Prosperous Malaysian Family Smallholders programme organised by Risda here today, which was also attended by Salim.
Ismail Sabri said the government is aware of how important the rubber plantation sector is to improve the country’s economy and has introduced various initiatives and assistance to increase the income of smallholders.
In fact, he said that rubber is the only commodity that is still given full assistance by the government.
In addition to IPG, he said, the government has also introduced the rubber replanting programme with a target area of 20,00ha, which now exceeds 10,000ha with the participation of 7,180 smallholders.
Meanwhile, in order to increase income through the productivity of rubber products, he said the government introduced the rubber productivity incentive scheme involving an allocation of RM31.1 million to achieve an annual production of 1,800kg per hectare.
“Alhamdulillah, the initiative has been utilised by 29,205 smallholders nationwide, including 4,344 smallholders in Pahang and a total of 602 in Bera,” he said. – Bernama, October 30, 2022
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