Mah (right) launches the ‘Dr Lada’ app. Seen from left are Mawan, Yogeesvaran, Datu Nasrun, Harry and Uggah.
KUCHING: The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities strives to position Malaysia as the top quality pepper producer in the world through pepper produced in Sarawak.
According to minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, Sarawak pepper is accepted as the premium pepper in the world market and its reputation attracts pepper growers from other countries to visit the state and learn more about its cultivation here
“For example, Vietnamese planters want to come to Sarawak to learn how Sarawak produces such high quality pepper. We are not the biggest pepper producer – only the fifth, but we want to be the best in terms of quality,” he spoke at the Malaysian Pepper Board (MPB)’s 10th anniversary celebration in a hotel here yesterday.
Presently there are 29,614 pepper farmers nationwide, according to the ministry’s statistics, with 98 per cent of them are in Sarawak.
This year, the area planted with pepper is expected to hit 17,100 hectares versus16,768 hectares last year, while production is expected to jump to close to 31,000 metric tonnes from 29,245 metric tonnes last year.
Ma added that under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), the ministry had also allocated RM40.9 million for a National Pepper Industry Development Centre in Semenggok near here, which is currently being implemented.
“The centre can help MPB hold more pepper industry research and development activities,” he said.
At the event, the minister launched the ‘Dr Lada’ app and also a recipe book. The app, developed by a group of MPB’s research officers, serves to render virtual help to pepper farmers in identifying and treating common pepper diseases.
The ‘Sarawak Pepper for Your Palate’ recipe book has 25 pepper-based recipes of local and international cuisines, tried and tested by three culinary experts from UCSI University. It is available at selected bookshops.
Meanwhile MPB chairman Tan Sri William Mawan, who is Saratok MP, expressed his hope for the federal government and the ministry to consider MPB’s proposal to create a ‘Social Safety Net’ in the form of a fund slated for helping pepper farmers reduce their burden in times of severe price drop of the commodity.
He said if the mechanism could be established for the rubber industry, it could also be set up for the pepper industry.
“The aid during these trying times could be given to pepper farmers, especially those in the rural areas who are fully dependent on pepper for their livelihood.”
Currently, pepper price is at a stable level – RM17.10 per kilogramme for black pepper and RM25.33 per kilogramme for white pepper. The three-day celebration includes various activities like exhibitions by MPB and other related agencies, pepper-based products sale booths and cooking demonstrations.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur, the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk K Yogeesvaran and MPB director-general Dr Harry Entebang were among those present at the event.