Risda To Receive US$105 Mln Allocation Next Year

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) will be receiving a RM327 million (US$105.48 million)allocation next year to carry out development programmes, including replanting of 40,000 hectares of rubber land throughout the country, said its director-general Wan Mohamad Zuki Mohamad. He said the money would also be used to assist farmers to buy fertiliser and seeds. He said he hoped the assistance would help rubber smallholders increase yield per hectare from 1,153 kilogrammes annually to 1,600 kilogrammes, He said this to reporters after oepning a Risda canoeing event here Saturday. He added that if the 1,600kg yield target was achieved, rubber smallholders would be able to earn monthly incomes of at least RM2,500 (US$806)) by 2015 and RM4,000 (US$1,290) by 2020. -- BERNAMA