01/09/2008 (The Star Online), Kemaman - Some 50,000 oil palm trees will be disbursed fresh from nurseries to villagers in rural Terengganu to encourage the cultivation of these trees for supplementary income.

Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said the trees, which mature at 14 months to 18 months, would be handed over to the villagers in the next couple of months.

“The first batch of trees is expected to be delivered in the next two weeks and they will be distributed in stages,” he said after launching the Bumi Hijau programme in Bukit Kuang here recently.

Ahmad said the state projected that each family could earn up to RM300 a month for every 10 trees once they start yielding.

“This will assist villagers in terms of income and defray the current cost of living,” he said.

Ahmad said the oil palm saplings required little care and could generate income after two years.

He said that villagers interested in cultivating the trees could apply through their respective assemblymen or village heads.

“We will not set a quota on the number of villagers. As long they are keen to cultivate, we will give them the trees,” he said.