MPIC proposes assistance for smallholders in Budget 2023

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) has proposed assistance for smallholders in the upcoming Budget 2023.

Senior undersecretary (strategic planning and international division) Pubadi Govindasamy said the ministry has engaged with the Ministry of Finance Ministry (MOF) on the matter, particularly in helping them with the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification.

"A priority for us in Budget 2023 is to protect the interest of smallholders, especially amid recovery post-pandemic," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the 7th International Palm Oil Sustainability Conference (IPOSC) 2022 today, after presenting a paper on 'Navigating the Malaysian Palm Oil Industry towards Sustainability Stewardship'.

Pubadi said the government had spent RM420 million to assist the smallholders on MSPO certification previously.

He noted the concerns from smallholders about getting the MSPO certification, including the cost incurred for training as well as the surveillance audit, thus the ministry aims to help the remaining smallholders who have yet to get the certification.

According to the MSPO Trace website, there are 180,072 smallholders and 4,417 plantations nationwide that have received the MSPO certification.

-- BERNAMA