KUALA LUMPUR: The East Coast Latex Corridor will increase national latex production, says Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng.

       He said currently, latex production is largely concentrated in the west coast states such as Johor, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak and Kedah.

       However, with the implementation of the East Coast Latex Corridor, national latex production will increase, he added.

       “The East Coast Latex Corridor is still in the early stages of implementation.

       “In 2020, the country’s total latex production could only accommodate around 7.3% of domestic consumption, mainly from the glove manufacturing sector.

       “If this programme goes well, we are targeting an increase to 10% of latex rubber production,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Sept 23).

       Wee also said that the government had allocated RM16mil in 2021 for the implementation of the Latex Production Incentive (IPL) programme aimed at promoting local latex production and latex supply chain development.

       He also said that as of August this year, four licensees (rubber buyers) have registered under the East Coast Latex Corridor programme involving a total of 115 smallholders.

       “Every rubber smallholder who participates in this programme will receive one-off assistance in the form of agricultural inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides worth RM850 per hectare.

       “Participants will also receive incentives of RM1 per kilogramme for 100% dry rubber content (DRC),” he said.

       Wee added that rubber smallholders who produce and sell latex do not need to make an application for the purpose of IPL claim as IPL payments are automatically based on RRIMniagaTM system transactions records.

       Rubber smallholders just need to make sure that they sell to rubber buyers who are using the RRIMniagaTM system, he said, adding that IPL incentive payments will continue to be credited into the smallholders’ accounts.