MALAYSIA: Farmers’ organization seeks government aid for rubber smallholders

The government has been approached to assist rubber smallholders by providing a monthly subsidy to reduce their burden due to the current economic situation.

Perak Farmers' Organization (PPN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar said it was to help reduce the burden the slump in rubber prices has put on smallholders. Smallholders should be provided a living allowance such as that enjoyed by fishermen now, he said, adding that a special fund should also be created to help them.

"We are worried that if rubber smallholders don't have food to eat it can lead to an unstable quality of life because they depend on rubber for a livelihood," he told reporters after launching the Food Processing Clinic Program in Kuala Kangsar.

Thirty entrepreneurial farmers participated in the program organized by the Padang Rengas Area Farmers Organization and District Islamic Religious Office in collaboration with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in Kuala Kangsar.

Source: “Bernama” (National News Agency of Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur; 10 Mar 2016
(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)