21/11/2017 (New Straits Times Online) - KUALA LUMPUR: The government has not neglected oil palm smallholders and is continuously working to improve crop yields to improve their standard of living.

Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur told the Dewan Rakyat today that the interest of smallholders will continue to be looked after by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

"MPOB will provide maintenance assistance to smallholders through replanting schemes and the use of quality oil palm seedlings," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Ewon Ebin (BN-Ranau) during the Minister's Question and Answer (MQT) session.

He added that the government have been providing assistance to smallholders in the form of crop and livestock integration which will increase productivity through the optimisation of land.

This, he said, is to encourage smallholders to increase their income and be better prepared in the event of falling palm oil prices.

A scheme known as the Oil Palm Industry Mechanization Incentive Scheme (OPIMIS) had also been introduced to help smallholders enhance production and reduce labour dependency.

"Under the scheme, the government provides a subsidy of up to 20 per cent for planters to purchase plantation equipment," he said.

Under the 11th Malaysia Plan, the government has allocated RM4.5 million under OPIMIS.

There are an estimated 650,000 oil palm smallholders in the oil palm industry, which is among the backbone of the agriculture sector.

The sector has also been instrumental in addressing rural poverty by providing income earning opportunities.

Last year, Malaysia exported RM67.58 billion in palm oil and palm-based products.