The Malaysian government has decided to introduce a cooperatives programme to uplift the livelihood of over 15,000 Indians working in small plantations in Segamat.

Malaysian Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister G. Palanivel said this after meeting several small plantation farmers in Chaah, the southernmost town in Segamat.

"There may be as many as 15,000 of these smallholders which could benefit from our advancement programme," The Star quoted Palanivel, as saying.

Palanivel further said that the cooperatives programme would also educate farmers on methods to increase the yield of their crop and how to diversify their plantations.

"Most of the plantations still hold on to traditional techniques. Education is an important tool to help them advance," he added. (ANI)