PUTRAJAYA: The Rural Development Ministry will continue to help smallholders in the rubber and oil palm sectors, including offering entrepreneurial programmes.
Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun said the ministry would help smallholders who were facing challenges owing to lower prices for rubber and palm oil, even though Felcra Bhd (Felcra) and the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) were no longer under its jurisdiction.
Felcra and Risda are now under the Economic Affairs Ministry.
She said the ministry had various programmes for smallholders.
“Smallholders have a special place with the ministry. We will help through various programmes to raise their income via entrepreneurial activities.
“As smallholders, they should grab the opportunities in the innovation sector for palm oil for instance, including generating biodiesel products,” she said at a briefing session on the Innovation and Desa Entrepreneurship Expo (Inotekdesa) 2018 here.
Rina was responding to concerns raised by smallholders over falling prices for the two commodities and the uncertain weather.
The minister said she was always ready to meet smallholders to discuss their concerns and help them to find alternatives to resolve their problems.