TASEK GELUGOR, May 2 (Bernama) -- The federal government will provideRM130 million allocation this year to help rubber, oil palm and coconutsmallholders nationwide to increase their income, said Deputy AgricultureMinister Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar Thursday.

He said this comprised RM100 million allocation for this and the balanceof RM30 million carried forward from last year's allocation of RM70million.

The government decided to include coconut smallholders among therecipients for the assistance which only benefitted rubber and oil palmsmallolders last year, he told a news conference after meeting PadangMenora farmers here.

He said those qualified could apply for the assistance which would be inthe form of farm equipment and materials totalling RM10,000.

The assistance, which would only be given once, would be for agriculture,livestock breeding, fish breeding and cottage industry, he said.

-- BERNAMA

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