Jabu, after launching the Pineapple Industry Seminar 2015, reacts to the press photographers by holding up two MD2 variety pineapples over his shoulders for comic relief. Also seen from left are Mong, Nogeh and Sahdan (right).
KUCHING: The state is looking to increase its acreage of areas planted with the MD2 variety pineapples to increase the nation’s overall pineapple production amid the growing global demand.
With its large tract of peat soil, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said Sarawak has a great potential to become the nation’s main producer of the MD2 variety Malaysian pineapples that are highly sought after in the global market and known to be favoured by international processed food giants.
Given the increasing demand particularly in the Middle East, China, Japan, Korea and European countries, he believed it was high time the state fully tapped into the potential of its pineapple industry.
As of last year, Sarawak had the second largest pineapple planted areas in the country behind Johor at 1,700ha. The state is looking to expand its pineapple planted areas to 3,500ha by 2020 and increase production from the present 17 metric tonnes per hectare to 45 metric tonnes per hectare.
Jabu, who is also Modernisation of Agriculture Minister, mentioned that the MD2 pineapple variety has a longer shelf-life when compared to local varieties such as the Pound, Morris, Pada as well as Bario, which gives it an advantage in terms of export.
He said Integrated Agriculture Development areas in Kota Samarahan and Saratok had been earmarked as areas that were immediately available for the development of pineapples.
Other areas included Mukah, Tanjung Manis and the Bau-Lundu region due to the availability of nearby production facilities and export hubs, he added.
“The state has not fully exploited the full potential of its pineapple industry and we are very much interested to further develop the industry here, especially in terms of technology and scientific advancement. We want to use the best planting materials which produce the best products that meet the preferences of consumers overseas.
“MD2 possesses an added advantage when compared to other pineapple species due to its longer shelf-life than other pineapple varieties produced in Sarawak. With that longer shelf-life, the state can market these products to countries that are situated much further from Malaysia,” Jabu told a press conference after officiating at the 2015 Pineapple Industry Seminar at the Riverside Majestic Hotel here yesterday.
Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Deputy Minister Anthony Nogeh Gumbek, Malaysia Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB) director-general Sahdan Salim and Assistant Minister of Agriculture (Research and Marketing) Datuk Mong Dagang were present.
To enhance the planting of the MD2 variety pineapples, Jabu mentioned that the state was currently working with the Agriculture Department on the best way to shorten the quarantine period of the planting materials so that their viability would not be affected.
He said the state government was also prepared to work with its federal counterpart and other agriculture industry players to enhance the industry.
“The decreasing number of food growing population as well as the high cost of food production in European countries have given the state an advantage when it comes to exporting quality agriculture produce. In this sense, we need to strategise in producing value-added products that have longer shelf-life so they can remain fresh when reaching the importing countries,” he continued.
Meanwhile, at the launching of the seminar earlier, Sahdan announced a RM25 million allocation under the 11th Malaysia Plan to strengthen the state’s pineapple planting initiative.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, in his text of speech read by Jabu, said the government was committed to support the growth of the pineapple planting sector to become the main agriculture-based industry in the state. With vast peat soil areas added with lower production and labour cost, he expressed confidence in the state’s ability to meet global market demand.
“We hope that MPIB can play a role to ensure rapid growth of the pineapple industry in the state. This includes the use of technology and introducing new varieties that are more profitable to the growers,” he said.