Cultivation starts at largest MD2 farm in northern S’wak

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Lee (centre) pictured with Jong (second right), his deputy Alex Jong (left) and members of the cooperative.

MIRI: The largest MD2 pineapple plantation in northern Sarawak is now on stream with the cultivation of the first batch of suckers.

According to the chairman of Eastern Union Agriculture Development Cooperative, Jong Tze Khiun, a lot of time and money had been invested in applying for permits from relevant authorities, quality control of the soil and selection of the suckers, among others.

“The cooperative successfully imported 240,000 MD2 pineapple suckers from Johor – the largest MD2 pineapple producer in the country, and we are now ready to work.

“We have done the selection of the suckers among the 240,000 that we have got and after that the good suckers will be brought to the nursery to grow,” Jong told reporters yesterday.

A closer look at the MD2 pineapple suckers imported from Johor.

The model nursery, he revealed, is about 12.5 acres whilst the farm itself covers about 100 acres.

“We are estimating that we will be able to plant all the suckers in two to three months’ time, depending on the weather,” he said, adding that the suckers will take about eight months to flower and another four months to fruit.

“As we plan to cultivate the second generation of our own MD2 pineapple, it will take us a total of 18 months to obtain the suckers.

“Currently, the MD2 pineapple suckers are sold at RM2.50 each and it is more expensive to have them shipped to Sarawak. Cultivating our own suckers is more economic, though it would take longer time,” said Jong, adding that they have identified the Middle East, Japan, Korea and China as the market for the pineapples.

Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who visited the farm yesterday, congratulated the cooperative on their initiative and tireless effort in setting up the farm.

“Cultivating our own pineapple is a good start to a great future. Not only would Sarawak no longer need to import expensive pineapples from Peninsula Malaysia, if properly developed the farm could be turned it into an agricultural tourism attraction similar to that of Taiwan.”

Lee encouraged the cooperative to use digital technology in the cultivation of the MD2 pineapples.

The cultivation of the first batch of MD2 pineapple is now in progress and estimated to complete in two to three months, depending on the weather.

“After this, arrangements will be made to invite Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, to visit the plantation,” said Lee.