The government via the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities has approved a total of RM10.537 million as of Aug 6, 2020 for the oil palm smallholders replanting (TSPKS) and oil palm smallholders agricultural input (LPPKS) soft loan schemes.

Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said the amounts were approved for 381 smallholders with 942.91 hectares of planted oil palm under the schemes, which were introduced in July last year with a total allocation of RM550 million.

"As for whether grants would be provided, this is still under discussion, and we propose under the 12th Malaysia Plan to give grants to smallholders who operate plantations covering 2.5 hectares or less," he said when winding up the committee-level debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill (2019) 2020 for his ministry at the Dewan Rakyat here today.

On the RM8 million export fund, he said it is aimed at boosting exports to China, although only RM1.2 million had been used as of end-2019.

On another matter, he said the ministry is in the process of drafting the new commodities policy for the 2021-2025 period.

-- BERNAMA