Ensure rubber yields meet market standards

KAPIT: Rubber smallholders have been urged to proactively ensure their rubber yields meet the standards required by the market.

Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang said this is important because rubber buyers often complain about purchasing rubber products containing contaminants, which affects rubber quality.

“Consequently, buyers only want to purchase the rubber at a lower price because the process of separating contaminants involves costs, leading smallholders to themselves suffer losses due to their negligence,” he added.

Wilson made the remarks at a Prosperous Smallholders Programme at Rumah Juin Lepong Balleh.

According to him, the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) in Sarawak is currently focusing on rubber replanting assistance through the Rubber Replanting to Rubber (TSGG) Programme and Agricultural Input Support Programme.

During the same event, Risda Divisional Officer for Kapit, Mensan Belayong, said the agency which has been present in Kapit since 2011 has managed 2,075.78 hectares of land for development programmes involving 1,103 smallholders in the division.

He said this year 300 smallholders have participated in the replanting programme, covering an area of 450 hectares in rubber cultivation around Kapit, Song, Sungai Asap, and Belaga.

The government, through Risda allocated RM5.5 million to implement several development programmes in the division throughout this year.

These programmes include Replanting Assistance, Marketing Productivity , Entrepreneur Development , Agri-food and Development aimed at enhancing the income of rubber smallholders in this area.