MRC TO INTRODUCE RUBBER TAPPING TECHNOLOGY IN BUKIT PANAU TO BOOST SMALLHOLDERS' INCOME

TANAH MERAH, May 13 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) will introduce rubber tapping, collection and dilution technology in Bukit Panau, involving 82 smallholders in the area.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Suparadi Md Noor said the technology was introduced to help increase the income of rubber smallholders in the area.

“The technology was first introduced in Janda Baik, Pahang as a pilot project and we will bring it to Bukit Panau, Tanah Merah in Kelantan, involving 82 rubber smallholders.

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“I have discussed with the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister's Department, through the Kelantan Federal Development Office, to implement this project as we know that most of the poor in this state are farmers, fishermen and rubber smallholders,” he told reporters after the 'Jom Masuk U' Programme here today.

He further said that despite owning their own land, the average rubber smallholders in the state did not enjoy good yields.

“Therefore, we aim to increase their income from RM700 to over RM5,000 a month through the technology we have introduced, while also improving both the quality and quantity of latex,” he said.

Mohamad Suparadi said the country’s rubber industry remained relevant despite challenges following the announcement of the US tariffs and that MRC and that the MRC and the government were constantly seeking ways to improve exports, particularly in terms of quality.

Last Saturday, Bernama reported that the Malaysian rubber market was expected to remain subdued the following week due to a prevailing bias towards weaker demand.

Industry expert Denis Low said there appeared to be some volatility in the rubber market, with prices and demand moving like a pendulum.

He attributed this instability to lingering global uncertainty stemming from US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

-- BERNAMA