The Government has approved an allocation of RM130mil to assist 260,000 smallholders affected by the fall in rubber price.
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said that with the allocation, a one-off payment of RM500 would be made to every eligible rubber smallholder nationwide.
“This measure is aimed at helping to lessen their burden as their income has been affected by the drop in rubber price,” he told reporters here yesterday.
He said it also showed that the Government paid serious attention to the falling rubber price problem.
Shafie said the RM500 aid would be credited into the smallholders’ accounts starting the middle of this month.
“The criteria for those eligible for the aid are that they must be Malaysian citizens, must own rubber land of 2.5ha or below and must be registered with the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda).
“Those eligible to receive the aid but not in the list, can go to the nearest Risda office and bring along their identity card,” he said.
The price of latex has gone down in the last few years and the current price is RM2.80 compared to RM10 three years ago.