46,849 smallholders benefited from MPOB assistance

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 46,849 smallholders throughout the country have benefited from aid and subsidies from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), said Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon.
She said the assistance included the Replanting Subsidy for Oil Palm smallholders (TSSPK), Oil Palm Smallholders New Planting scheme (TBSPK), Smallholding Maintenance Assistance (CPC) and Cantas Discount Scheme (SKIDIC).
"Under both TSSPK and TBSPK schemes, about 45,202 smallholders have received assistance, where 17,569 benefited under TSSPK and 27,633 benefited under the TBSPK scheme.
"Both schemes provide a grant of RM7,500 per hectare in the Peninsula and RM9,000 per hectare for Sabah and Sarawak," she said in reply to Senator Datuk Lim Yoon Nget at the Dewan Negara, here today.
Lim wanted to know how many smallholders received MPOB assistance so far.
Noriah said about 747 smallholders who were TSSPK recipients owning less than 2.5ha of land also received assistance of RM500 a month for two years under CPC.
Additionally under the Cantas Discount Scheme, a total of 900 smallholders received a discount of RM1,000 for purchase of a motorised harvester also called "Cantas".
The portable "Cantas" machine is capable of harvesting up to 3.2 metric tonnes of FFB, compared to 1.8 tonnes if harvested manually. – Bernama