Govt Channels Over RM1.62 Mln To Support Sabah Oil Palm Smallholders -- Chan
KOTA KINABALU, June 10 (Bernama) -- The government has disbursed over RM1.62 million in assistance to 21 independent oil palm smallholders in Sabah’s interior regions, covering 90.32 hectares for replanting purposes.
Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin announced this during his two-day working visit to Pensiangan, Keningau, and Tenom, which ended today.
The allocation, distributed through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) under the Oil Palm Smallholder Replanting Financing Incentive Scheme (TSPKS 2.0), saw five smallholders in Pensiangan receive RM391,752, eight in Keningau get RM713,534.40, and another eight in Tenom benefit from RM520,425.
“Interior Sabah has great potential for palm-based commodities. The government not only provides financial assistance but also steers smallholders toward sustainable development through supportive policies," Chan said in a statement here today.
According to the statement, the assistance package also includes subsidies for Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, support for good agricultural practices, chemical storage racks, and personal protective equipment to enhance compliance with MSPO standards.
As of April 30, Sabah has achieved a remarkable 97.62 per cent MSPO certification rate, with 30,768 smallholders certified across 191,204.27 hectares.
The TSPKS 2.0 scheme, managed by Agrobank with a RM100 million matching grant, has approved 571 applications in Sabah, covering a total of 2,505.06 hectares.
Chan also commended Koperasi Penanam Sawit Mampan (KPSM) Apin-Apin for becoming Sabah’s first KPSM to obtain MSPO certification for their weighing centre.
“MSPO certification not only enhances international market recognition for Malaysian palm oil but also brings tangible benefits to smallholders, such as improved farming practices, environmental conservation, higher product quality, and ultimately, increased income,” he added.
-- BERNAMA