SHAH ALAM, Oct 24 — On this day in 1968, the 8th Menteri Besar Dato' Harun Idris (1964-1976) officiated the state’s rubber replanting campaign at SK Kampung Endah in Banting.
It was launched to intensify efforts to replant rubber across Selangor, thereby addressing issues related to rubber quality and ensuring smallholders' price stability.
It also aimed to overcome challenges arising from competition between natural and synthetic rubber.
Innovation in rubber breeding
By 1968, only 90,531 of the 163,731 acres of rubber smallholdings in Selangor had been replanted.
Thus, the replanting initiative was part of rural development efforts, with smallholders in the affected areas being supplied with high-quality rubber clones tested through scientific processes.
These improved rubber trees were capable of producing higher latex yields.
Encouraging farmers to replant
In his speech during the campaign's launch, Harun urged all smallholders in Selangor to seize the opportunity to replace old rubber trees with new, superior clones.
The adoption of these improved varieties would result in higher yields with less labour input.
Improving economic well-being
The launching of the rubber replanting campaign was one of the government’s initiatives to encourage rural communities to participate in national development efforts.
This approach also helped rural residents enhance their economic well-being.
