KUCHING, April 21: The government has allocated RM1.47 million to help pepper growers in Meluan.
According to Sarawak Public Communications Unit, the allocation will be handed over to 567 recipients, comprising RM367,000 in assistance under the New Pepper Plantation Scheme (STLB), and to 121 smallholders farming 14.1 hectares of land, while RM1.1 million in assistance under the Mature Pepper Planting Scheme (STLM) will benefit 446 smallholders farming 84.6 hectares of land.
The symbolic handover ceremony was held during the #Keluarga Malaysia 2022 Agricomoditi Tour Programme officiated at by Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) Datuk Willie Mongin at Rumah Inting in Nanga Lasi Julau on Wednesday (April 20).
Speaking during the ceremony, Willie said the Malaysian government is committed to ensuring that no farmer and plantation operator is left out from receiving benefits provided by the government.
“Therefore, various strategies and initiatives have been made through the Malaysian Pepper Board to continue to encourage pepper cultivation activities as well as support the pepper industry at various levels upstream, middle and downstream,” he said.
Willie, who is also the Puncak Borneo MP added that since 2016 until March 2022, the government has allocated a total of RM12.59 million through various assistance schemes to strengthen pepper cultivation efforts. — DayakDaily
