Felda leaves settlers in a lurch

The problems for the settlers in Kampung Bukit Rokan Utara, began eight years ago after replanting from rubber to oil palm.

When they were rubber small holdings under a Felda scheme, the setters were able to tap rubber and maintain the plantation very much on their own. They were self reliant.

But all this changed when, with the drop in demand for natural rubber, the plantation companies turned their attention to palm oil, and its burgeoning product, oil palm. And agencies like government-based Felda was no exception. They converted large areas of plantations from rubber to oil palm.

The troubles of the settlers of Felda Bukit Rokan Utara, began when the replanting from rubber to oil palm began. That was eight years ago.

After eight years, the settlers should be living a comfortable life. But this hasn't happened to the settlers of Bukit Rotan Utara. Some are now in financial debt to Felda of up to RM150,000.

And they blame it all on Felda. The agency, according to the settlers, was supposed to clear, replant and maintain all the small holdings of approximately 10.3 acres each. Come harvesting, Felda would also manage the process and the settlers would earn income from the sale of the oil palm fruit.

Oil palm unlike rubber demand a totally different process of cultivation and harvesting. And harvesting is back breaking work because the fruit bunches are heavy to cut from the trees and to carry to a trailer.

For Felda settlements like Bukit Rolam Utara, the settlers are no longer able to do this kind of heavy work. Many are old and their children have left to work in towns and cities.

So, unable to harvest the fruit, they earn no income from the smallholding and resort to doing jobs outside of their settlement to earn a living.