PADANG BESAR: The people should look on the many benefits that can be gained from ketum farming programmes instead of focusing mainly on the downside.
Rubber Industries Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) chairman Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said there is a high demand for ketum leaves abroad especially in the United States and Europe due to its many health benefits.
"A research conducted in the US and Europe revealed that ketum leaves have many health benefits especially for use during winter season.
"The benefits of ketum leaves was first revealed through the mass media before research was done a research on the leaves.
"I understand that there are several countries interested in planting ketum trees commercially due to the high demand abroad," said Zahidi.
Zahidi, who is also the Padang Besar member of parliament, was speaking to the reporters at the Padang Besar Parliament Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open House at the Umno Beseri division office here today.
He said should the proposal be rejected by the government, small-scale farmers would lose the opportunity to increase their income.