MRB Malaysian Rubber Board : Rubber Coffee Shop Programme Platform Interaction MRB and Smallholders

Rubber Coffee Shop Programme Platform Interaction MRB and Smallholders

The Rubber Coffee Shop Programme also known as Sembang Getah di Warung continued in 2016, and was held on 11 January 2016 at Kampung Sungai Buloh, Simpang Tiga Padang Kambing, Alor Gajah Melaka.

This programme is an initiative by MRB to interact with stakeholders especially rubber smallholders. This programme provides an opportunity for MRB to engage with them and inform them on the implementation of the Rubber Production Incentive also known as IPG which has been activated since November 2015. The implementation of the IPG will contribute towards reducing the economic burden of rural smallholders by enhancing their income and ensuring sufficient supply of raw materials to the downstream sector in the rubber industry.

The programme was well received, with an attendance of more than 50 smallholders from villages around Alor Gajah Melaka. Among the issues raised and discussed were the declining natural rubber prices and how it has impacted the smallholders' income, the amount of IPG claims eligible and if there are any other assistance that MRB could assist smallholders in the current situation.

YBhg Datuk Dr Mohd Akbar bin Md Said informed that MRB was optimistic in the uptake of local consumption through innovations such as the rubberised road as is a step towards reducing the excess supply in the global market and would contribute towards strengthening NR prices. It has been agreed by the major producing countries such as Thailand and Indonesia to use 300,000 tonnes of rubber for making roads. In this programme, smallholders also applied their Rubber Permit Card Transaction Authority (PAT-G) which is a requirement to make their IPG claims.

Also present at this programme was YBrs Dr Zairossani Mohd Nor, Deputy Director (Research and Innovation) MRB, YBrs Dr Suarni bin Sumormo, Deputy Director (Policy and Operations) MRB, Division Directors, En Zainuddin Roji, MRB State Director of Melaka, and media partners.