Kota Kinabalu: Rubber smallholders in Sabah are expected to increase their income from RM1,800 to RM5,000 a month by 2050 under the V50 Strategic Roadmap of the Sabah Rubber Industry Board (LIGS), launched at Wisma Pertanian, Thursday.
State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, said the 25-year roadmap provides a comprehensive guide for LIGS staff and management, aiming to lift smallholders out of the low-income group, with a five-year medium-term goal.
“Through this strategic roadmap, we hope to lift smallholder farmers out of the low-income group within the next five years,” he said.
He highlighted that LIGS is no longer focused solely on rubber cultivation, but has expanded into paddy, pineapples, Musang King durians, honey bees and other supplementary crops to boost rural incomes.
The minister noted that LIGS has also embraced strategic institutional transformation, including the activation of its commercial subsidiary, LIGS Solutions, which strengthens the board’s commercial functions and positions it as a hybrid organisation combining development and business capabilities.
“This approach does not marginalise smallholders, but opens new opportunities through value chain expansion, downstream industry, logistics and market services, and active participation in a broader competitive economic ecosystem,” he added.
He said global rubber price volatility remains a key challenge beyond state control, but government support continues through the Federal Rubber Production Incentive (IPG) and Sabah State Assistance (BKNS).
Supplementary crops allow farmers to earn extra income after morning tapping.
LIGS currently operates a 500-acre pineapple farm in Kota Marudu to supply materials for village kitchen-garden programs.
“Supplementary income is important because tapping usually ends around 10 or 11 in the morning and the remaining time can be used to work on other crops,” Jamawi said.
Speaking to the media, regarding premium durian, he said Sabah prices remain stable, with grade A at RM45 per kiloggram (kg), grade B at RM40, and grade C at RM35, while export demand for grades A and B remains strong.
The launch also coincided with Jamawi’s birthday, which falls on Jan 8, adding a cheerful touch to the ceremony.
Jamawi expressed confidence that with momentum from this roadmap.
“LIGS will emerge not only as a leader in Sabah’s rubber industry but also as a model government agency, modern, progressive, and future-oriented, capable of taking on new projects such as paddy cultivation and further downstream industries.
“The V50 Strategic Roadmap comes at the right time to transform rubber from a traditional sector into a modern, high-tech, and value-added industry,” he said.
Also present were Assistant Ministers Datuk Ruslan Muharam and Datuk Hendrus Anding, Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Leonard Stephen Poyong, Deputy State Secretary (Administration) Datuk Norlijah Danin, Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat Chief Executive Datuk Rosmadi Datu Sulai, LIGS General Manager Sabdil Tanjong and LIGS Solution Sdn Bhd Managing Director Eswadi Roslan.
