‘BUDI Agri-Komoditi’ aid approved for 35,676 smallholders in Sarawak

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 95,883 smallholders in Sarawak has been identified as eligible to receive RM400 monthly under BUDI Agri-Komoditi.

Plantation and Commodities Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, said 35,676 smallholders, or 37.2 per cent, had been approved for the assistance as of September 2026.

“Of the 95,883 eligible smallholders, 35,676 or 37.2 per cent have been approved for BUDI Agri-Komoditi,” she said when answering a question from Betong Member of Parliament, Datuk Dr Richard Rapu, during the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.

She said BUDI Agri-Komoditi was a cash assistance introduced following the government’s targeted diesel subsidy rationalisation.

“Starting June 22, 2026, targeted diesel subsidy through BUDI Agri-Komoditi at RM400 monthly was also provided to eligible smallholders in Sabah and Sarawak,” she said.

According to the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK), eligible recipients in Sarawak comprise smallholders from the oil palm, rubber, cocoa and pepper sectors.

The oil palm sector recorded the highest number of approved recipients, with 17,479 smallholders approved from 37,631 identified as eligible.

“The pepper sector followed with 10,655 approved recipients from 38,053 eligible smallholders, while 7,310 rubber smallholders were approved from 19,644 eligible recipients.

“Meanwhile, 232 cocoa smallholders were approved from 555 identified as eligible, bringing the total number of approved recipients across the four sectors to 35,676,” she said.

Noraini said the ministry was aware that many eligible smallholders had yet to submit their applications despite various efforts undertaken by the Government.

“The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities has activated operation rooms and provided hotline services through agencies under the ministry,” she said.

She said the facilities were intended to coordinate information and enquiries from target groups involved in the various agricommodity subsectors.

“KPK will also continue conducting BUDI Agri-Komoditi outreach sessions periodically, including briefings and registration counters to assist smallholders with registration matters face-to-face,” she said.

The ministry has also expanded the role of its agency branch offices in Sabah and Sarawak to strengthen outreach and provide application assistance.

Noraini said TUNAS officers and agency personnel in the field were also involved in disseminating information and assisting smallholders with their BUDI Agri-Komoditi applications.

She added that discussions had also been held with representatives from the Ministry of Finance to identify suitable implementation mechanisms through KPK’s agency networks.