KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — The government does not plan to reinforce the oil palm replanting programme via grants for now, the Plantation and Commodities Ministry said.
Its Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the government has nevertheless allocated RM100 million for a hybrid programme, with half for grants and the remaining for loans, to implement the Smallholder Palm Oil Replanting Financing Incentive Scheme this year.
He said an estimated 1,500 oil palm smallholders will benefit from the programme, covering a replanting area of 5,900ha.
“We hope the allocation will help independent smallholders increase their income and productivity in the palm oil sector,” he said in response to Jamaludin Yahya (PN-Pasir Salak), who asked if the ministry would reinforce the replanting programme via grants as opposed to loans, at the Dewan Rakyat today.
As of July 12, allocations for 413 smallholders over 1,725ha of land, involving RM26.93 million, were approved by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.
There are 441,847 smallholders in Malaysia, comprising 233,439 organised smallholders and 208,408 independent ones as of March, he said.
“Only independent smallholders are eligible for the replanting initiative,” he added.
— Bernama
