Risda to open its first Sabah office

The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) will open an office in Kota Kinabalu, its first in Sabah, early next year to develop the rubber industry and help the smallholders there.

Risda deputy director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Zuki Mohamad said today the office would be run by a director.

He said a 70,000ha site had been identified for replanting rubber involving 30,000 smallholders.

Risda would help in the technical aspects, supply of saplings, setting up of cooperatives, educating the smallholders children, including providing scholarships, and organising activities to augment the incomes of target groups, he told reporters after the state-level Risda Innovation and Quality Award presentation in Kota Baru, Kelantan. -- Bernama