The Sarawak government has allocated RM60 million to help oil palm and pepper smallholders statewide to buy fertiliser for their crops, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.

He explained many smallholders in Sarawak plant these crops as their primary source of income and are now affected by the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on world market prices.

Uggah said an estimated 58,000 smallholders are expected to benefit from the aid.

“This financial aid programme is to lighten the burden they face as well as to motivate them to continuously  increase their production.

“It will be implemented in phases beginning this October,” he said today after symbolically presenting the aid to Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development principal secretary Edwin Abit.

Uggah, who is Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, said each qualified smallholder would receive 12 bags of fertiliser.

He added the aid would be distributed through the respective district agriculture and area farmers’ organisation offices.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by SAMUEL AUBREY

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