Latest news with #PekebunKecilMakmur
Barnama
4 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
RISDA Launches Major Mission To Empower Sarawak Rubber Smallholders
SERIAN, May 31 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), through its agency the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Sarawak's rubber smallholder community with a comprehensive development plan. As part of this effort, RISDA announced a RM42.69 million allocation for strategic development programmes aimed at empowering smallholders across the state. The announcement was made during the Pekebun Kecil Makmur programme and pre-Gawai 2025 celebration, held in Kampung Raeh Baru today, which around 1,000 smallholders and local residents attended. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi officiated the event, which aimed to foster closer ties between the ministry, rural communities and rubber smallholders in the region. In addition to outlining development plans, RISDA also distributed food aid to 100 residents as part of the RISDA Foundation's corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. One of the recipients, Minang Dawi, 43, stated that RISDA had played a crucial role in enhancing the livelihoods of smallholders in Kampung Raeh Baru, particularly through replanting initiatives and support for supplementary crops such as pineapples, lemongrass and bananas. 'These are now bearing fruit and bringing returns,' she said, adding that she hoped RISDA could also help farmers reach broader markets. 'Our crops are thriving, but we don't yet know how to market them more widely. We hope RISDA can support us in this area,' she added. Another rubber smallholder, Tajan Paing, 70, expressed gratitude for RISDA's support, which had helped his rubber trees begin to yield, but urged the agency to improve the poor farm roads that continue to hamper access and transportation.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sabah rubber sector set for revival
Symbolic start: Ahmad Zahid at the launch of the Pekebun Kecil Makmur programme in Tenom. — Bernama KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's rubber industry is set for a revival, with efforts to transform it from a 'sunset industry' to a 'sunrise sector' with solid plans under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who also heads the ministry, said the initiative spearheaded by the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) aims to modernise the industry by establishing high-tech rubber depots, promoting value-added production, and introducing advanced tapping techniques to boost smallholder incomes and secure the sector's long-term viability. 'This is about creating a sustainable future for our smallholders. 'We want to transform the rubber industry into a sunrise sector that can generate high value, create jobs and provide long-term economic stability for Sabah,' he said at the launch of the Pekebun Kecil Makmur programme in Tenom yesterday. To ensure Sabah's smallholders have a stronger voice at the national level, Ahmad Zahid also announced the appointment of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin as the national honorary adviser for Risda. Bung, who is also Sabah Umno chief and Kinabatangan MP, will serve as the voice for smallholders, ensuring their concerns are heard and addressed, he said. Ahmad Zahid noted that Sabah, with the largest rubber plantation area in Malaysia, covering 202,536ha or 25.69% of the country's total, should be a priority in national development plans. As part of this transformation, he proposed the construction of high-tech rubber depots in Sabah to enhance downstream activities and create new income streams for smallholders. 'These depots should be built in Sabah, and funding should not be a concern as Risda already has the necessary allocations,' he said. Ahmad Zahid also highlighted the potential of Risda Fuel, a technology that converts 1kg of scrap rubber into five litres of biodiesel. Successfully tested, he said this innovation could provide smallholders with a valuable new product line. Ahmad Zahid called for more youth involvement in the rubber sector, urging Risda to modernise production and expand training opportunities through Technical and Vocational Education and Training programmes. 'Young people should be trained, not just as tappers, but as value creators in the rubber industry,' he said. To further diversify the sector, Ahmad Zahid suggested turning Tenom into a furniture manufacturing hub, leveraging rubberwood from older trees to create high-value products. He estimated that if 40,000ha of rubber trees were replanted annually, the sector could generate up to RM9bil a year. At the event, a RM9.97mil allocation for smallholders was announced, to be managed by Keningau Risda. The funds will cover four key components: the replanting and supply programme (RM8.23mil), entrepreneurship and special programmes (RM1.2mil), the extension programme (RM206,000), and the productivity programme (RM331,000). This is part of the RM42.23mil set aside for Risda in Sabah under the national budget for 2025, aimed at boosting the overall welfare and economic resilience of smallholders across the state.
Borneo Post
18-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Ahmad Zahid wants RISDA to establish high-tech rubber depot in Sabah
Ahmad Zahid officiating at the state-level Risda's programme for smallholders, at SJK (C) Chung Hwa, Tenom.-Bernama photo TENOM (May 18): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) to establish a High-Tech Rubber Depot in the district to boost the rubber industry and support smallholders in the state. Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the Rural and Regional Minister, said Sabah has excellent potential in the rubber industry, adding that the state has the largest rubber plantation area in the country, spanning 202,536 hectares or 25.69 per cent of Malaysia's total rubber cultivation area. 'With the establishment of the depot, Risda should also develop downstream rubber-based products commercially, including conducting research into biofuel derived from scrap rubber, as one kilogramme of coagulated rubber residue can produce five litres of biodiesel known as RISDA Biofuel,' he said. He said this when delivering his speech at the state-level Risda's programme for smallholders, Pekebun Kecil Makmur, at the SJK (C) Chung Hwa hall here on Sunday. At the ceremony, Ahmad Zahid announced Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin as the honorary national advisor for Risda to ensure the voices of smallholders in the state continue to be heard. Ahmad Zahid said the government strives to stabilise the rubber industry despite the current low rubber floor price. '…the floor price for cup lump is set at RM5 per kilogramme, and the current market price has reached RM5.01 per kilogramme, as seen in Tangkak, Johor. We need to transform the rubber industry from a sunset industry (declining) into a sunrise industry (growing) by injecting elements of high technology and innovation,' he added. He said Malaysia was once among the world's largest natural rubber producers from the 1930s to the 1990s, but due to price issues and labour shortages, it is currently the world's sixth-largest rubber producer. 'Therefore, Risda must find solutions. Develop technologies, train young people using the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) approach and mobilise them to the sector with new skills, not just as rubber tappers but as value creators,' he said. He also urged Risda to focus on replanting efforts and using old rubber trees in the furniture manufacturing industry. 'We have the potential to replant 40,000 hectares annually, which could generate up to RM9 billion in rubber timber value if fully utilised. The furniture industry should not be concentrated only in Muar, Johor. I propose that Tenom be developed as Risda's furniture industry hub in Sabah,' he added.-Bernama
Daily Express
18-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Bung Moktar Named RISDA adviser to champion Sabah rubber smallholders
Published on: Sunday, May 18, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 18, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: Participants of the Sabah State Level Pekebun Kecil Makmur Programme posing with Zahid and Bung Moktar in Tenom. TENOM: Sabah rubber smallholders are expected to gain stronger national representation following the appointment of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin as National Honorary Adviser for RISDA. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Bung was selected to ensure Sabah's smallholders have a voice in national policymaking and to help drive the rubber industry's transformation. Advertisement Sabah, with the largest rubber plantation area in Malaysia at over 202,000 hectares, should be a national priority, Zahid said during the Pekebun Kecil Makmur event in Tenom on Sunday. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Barnama
18-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Ahmad Zahid Wants Risda To Establish High-tech Rubber Depot In Sabah
TENOM, May 18 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) to establish a High-Tech Rubber Depot in the district to boost the rubber industry and support smallholders in the state. Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the Rural and Regional Minister, said Sabah has excellent potential in the rubber industry, adding that the state has the largest rubber plantation area in the country, spanning 202,536 hectares or 25.69 per cent of Malaysia's total rubber cultivation area. 'With the establishment of the depot, Risda should also develop downstream rubber-based products commercially, including conducting research into biofuel derived from scrap rubber, as one kilogramme of coagulated rubber residue can produce five litres of biodiesel known as RISDA Biofuel,' he said. He said this when delivering his speech at the state-level Risda's programme for smallholders, Pekebun Kecil Makmur, at the SJK (C) Chung Hwa hall here today. At the ceremony, Ahmad Zahid announced Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin as the honorary national advisor for Risda to ensure the voices of smallholders in the state continue to be heard. Ahmad Zahid said the government strives to stabilise the rubber industry despite the current low rubber floor price. '…the floor price for cup lump is set at RM5 per kilogramme, and the current market price has reached RM5.01 per kilogramme, as seen in Tangkak, Johor. We need to transform the rubber industry from a sunset industry (declining) into a sunrise industry (growing) by injecting elements of high technology and innovation,' he added. He said Malaysia was once among the world's largest natural rubber producers from the 1930s to the 1990s, but due to price issues and labour shortages, it is currently the world's sixth-largest rubber producer. 'Therefore, Risda must find solutions. Develop technologies, train young people using the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) approach and mobilise them to the sector with new skills, not just as rubber tappers but as value creators,' he said.
