A total of 318,750 rubber smallholders will receive the monsoon season assistance (BMT) of RM800 each this year, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
The Deputy Prime Minister said 232,427 of the recipients are rubber smallholders registered with the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) and 86,323 are under the Sabah Rubber Industry Board.Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said applications for the assistance, which involves a total allocation of RM256mil, are open until Sept 15.
“The BMT 2023 programme reflects the government’s commitment to help rubber smallholders and tappers in facing financial issues during the monsoon season.
“The government hopes that they will fully benefit from this programme,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday, reported Bernama.
Ahmad Zahid said the assistance is provided to rubber smallholders who manage their own plantations and plantation owners who are members of the group replanting project.
He said those who depend on tapping rubber as their main source of income and do not own any plantation are also included in the list of recipients.
“Individuals registered with Risda and in the smallholders’ development system (e-SPeK) are also eligible for this assistance,” he added.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2023 in February, announced the increase of BMT from RM600 to RM800 with a total allocation of RM256mil.
Source : thestar.com.my