KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) — Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin has officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Crepe Rubber Processing Centre and launched the Rubber Industry Transformation Project (TARGET) programme in Padang Terap, Kedah today.
TARGET is one of the efforts by the ministry in increasing the involvement of smallholders to explore new opportunities in the rubber production chain.
Zuraida said the ministry is focusing on issues related to rubber smallholders particularly the economic gap they are facing.
“We are always thinking of ways to help increase their income and improve their living standards,” Zuraida said in a statement today.
Through the TARGET programme, agencies under MPIC such as the Malaysian Rubber Board and the Malaysian Rubber Council can assist in providing technical support and funding to eligible participating organisations.
Crepe rubber that can be sold at a higher price is a new alternative for rubber smallholders in diversifying their sources of income from simply relying on latex or cuplump production alone.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
