MRB urged to develop consolidation programme for abandoned rubber plantations

Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities has urged the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) to formulate a consolidation programme to develop abandoned rubber plantations to reduce the nation’s dependency on rubber imports.

Its Minister, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, said to date, the ministry has identified around 420,000 hectares of abandoned rubber plantations nationwide, with a production potential of over 550,000 tonnes of rubber.