JULAU: The Meluan constituency has received an allocation of RM1.47 million for pepper farmers in the area.
According to Sarawak Public Communications Unit, RM367,000 would be disbursed to 567 recipients from the New Pepper Plantation Scheme (STLB), and another 121 smallholders with a land area of 14.1ha.
Meanwhile, RM1.1 mln would be for the Mature Pepper Planting Scheme (STLM) involving 446 smallholders with a land area of 84.6ha.
A symbolic handover was held at the #Keluarga Malaysia 2022 Agrikomoditi event officiated by federal Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Willie Mongin at Rh Inting, Nanga Lasi Julau yesterday.
The selection of the Julau parliamentary constituency as the location for the programme was due to the number of farmers in the area – about 6,704 and an area of 2109.4ha used for pepper cultivation.
Willie said the ministry was committed to ensuring that no farmers were left out of receiving government assistance.
“Various strategies and initiatives have been made through the Malaysian Pepper Board to continue to encourage pepper cultivation and to support the pepper industry at various levels.”
He said, starting from 2016 until March 2022, the government had allocated a total of RM12.59 mln worth of assistance.
Earlier, Meluan assemblyman Rolland Duat Jubin said he hoped the government could assist farmers in the Nanga Lasi area in particular.
