KUCHING: The State Agriculture Department is inviting smallholders to apply for the Rubber Production Incentive (IPG) introduced by the Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) last month to help smallholders nationwide obtain better rubber prices.
Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas today said the state government had decided to chip in to make the incentive more attractive.
“LGM will pay RM1.40 per kilogramme (kg) for (100 per cent dry rubber content) cup-lumps and RM0.90 per kg of latex.
“It will also pay RM1.40 per kg for (100 per cent dry rubber content) rubber sheets. Here, the state government will pay an additional 50 sen per kg for both cup-lumps and rubber sheets,” he said in a statement here.
He said both cup-lumps and rubber sheets will now be at RM1.90 per kg each, and the increase, although not big, would give tappers more reasonable prices and income for their products.
“Since LGM says that smallholders in Sarawak under the supervision of the Agriculture Department can apply for the incentive for the whole month of March as well, the additional increase is also in effect,” he said.
Uggah also advised all those who wish to obtain the incentive to have the Rubber Transaction Authority Permit as required by LGM.
“This permit is obtainable free of charge from all agriculture offices in the state, and failure to produce the permit could result in delay to the processing of payments.
“LGM has also said the payments will be made directly to the bank account of the smallholders as stated in their claim forms,” he added.
According to LGM, the incentive is for all Malaysian smallholders from April 1 to 30. – Bernama
