KUALA LUMPUR: The government will provide assistance to smallholders affected by the floods, said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
He said the assistance also includes compensation for income loss during the monsoon season, which would be announced by the Finance Ministry, Buletin Utama reported.
"Typically, assistance is provided whenever a disaster occurs in our country that affects the income of smallholders.
"First, flood aid, and second, compensation for lost income.
"Similarly, during the monsoon season, if fishermen are unable to go to sea, they will also receive incentives," Johari told the Dewan Negara during the question-and-answer session today.
Meanwhile, some 55,000 settlers have received the RM200 monthly Budi Madani subsidy, he said.
To increase rubber production, the ministry plans to implement a smallholder consolidation programme to manage 420,000 hectares of rubber plantations nationwide, he said.
He said the programme will also boost natural rubber production while reducing reliance on imports.