LUNDU: A participant of RISDA (Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority) Kota Samarahan Branch, Lim Ah Teck was chosen as this year’s RISDA Sarawak GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) Model.
Lim originally from Sri Aman when met said that GAP introduced by RISDA benefitted the smallholders like him by increasing productivity.
He participated in RISDA in 2011 and now has palnted 800 in his 1.45 hectares of land with some of the rubber tree ready for tapping.
“What is good about GAP is that it can speed up the maturity of the rubber trees from seven years to four and a half years.
“I am optimistic that when all my rubber trees can be tapped this year I am able to increase my income to more than RM4,000 a month,” he said.
Besides rubber, Lim also plants oil palm, vegetables, fruit trees and rears fish.
Lim said that although his rubber trees have not reached full maturity, RISDA though GAP is providing farm inputs of RM3,000 per hectare.
“In fact, RISDA participants also receive assistance under its Additional Economic Activities to boost the participants’ income before their rubber trees can be tapped,” Lim said.
Lim also urged those with idle land to apply to join RISDA programme for a brighter future.
Apart from Lim, three RISDA participants namely Ali Rafaie, Dennis Terus and Musit Kabul were each chosen as GAP RISDA Model for Betong, Sibu and Miri Division, respectively.
Certificates for the four GAP models were presented by Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi during RISDA Sarawak GAP Convention held at Kem Bina Negara, Sampadi here on Saturday.
Also present were Director of RISDA Development and Technology Transfer Division, Zainabon Ismail, Director of RISDA Sarawak, Zulkefli Zaini and his deputy, Abdul Aziz Awang.
