KUCHING: The Sarawak government has allocated RM60 million to help oil palm and pepper smallholders statewide purchase fertiliser.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said for many smallholders, the commodities were their primary sources of income.
However, they depended on the current world market prices, which are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, he added.
“This financial aid programme is to lighten their burden as well as to motivate them to continuously increase their production.
“It will be implemented in phases beginning this October,” he said on Tuesday (Aug 24).
Uggah handed over the cheque for the amount to Edwin Abit, the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development earlier.
Also present were Agriculture Department director Dr Alvin Chai Lian Kuet, Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority general manager Joseph Blandoi and Dr Richard Rapu, a political secretary to the Chief Minister.
Uggah, who is also Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, said each eligible smallholder would be given 12 bags of fertiliser.
“It is estimated that some 58,000 of them are expected to benefit from the aid, which would be distributed through the respective district agriculture department and the area farmers organisation offices.”
Uggah also presented a grant of RM8 mln to the Dayak Cultural Foundation.
“The grant will be used to finance the development of its nine-storey office towers, namely Tower A for the Dayak Cultural Foundation, and Tower B for the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”