JASIN, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Rubber smallholders in the country are raking in big profits following the rise in prices of the commodity.
The Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) is also consistently seeking to do its best to ensure profits for the smallholders or producers, as well as end users of the industry, said its chairman Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah.
"LGM is always undertaking inititatives to attract smallholders to plant rubber and we have introduced the latest technology to them to stimulate rubber production," he added.
He said factors such as the weather, low supply and high demand are among the reasons for rubber prices to soar in the market.
He highlighted that the uncertain weather conditions in Malaysia and other key natural rubber producer nations such as Thailand and Indonesia has caused production to be affected.
Ahmad, who is the Member of Parliament for Jasin, was speaking to reporters after officiating the annual general meeting of the 2011 Cluster Unit and Farmers Monitoring Unit Course in Merlimau here Thursday.
He said when production is affected, the natural rubber supply in the global market is reduced and end user countries such as China and the United States feel the impact.
He explained that China for instance, needs a large rubber supply for use by its big population and the automotive industry there which is rapidly growing.
"If the problem in rubber supply persists, it is feared, other industries too will be affected," he said.
According to Ahmad, the reducing rubber supply in the market and increased demand, had caused the price of the commodity to soar to a historic high of RM17.34 per kg last Friday.
He said apart from rubber, the government has to also pay special attention to the country's rice production industry which at the moment can only meet 70 per cent of domestic demand.
"We need to enhance the rice production as one of the food security aspects. I hope we can focus on those padi planting areas and provide assistance there," he added.
(Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=566271)
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