The Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM)has set a target of increasing MD2 pineapple production by 50 per cent to meet domestic and export demand.
According to a report from Bernama, LPNMdirector-general Mohd Khairuzamri M Salleh said under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), the industry plans to increase Malaysia’s pineapple production area from 16,000ha to 20,000ha with a focus on MD2 pineapples.
Currently, MD2 accounts for around 16 per cent of pineapple production in Malaysia.
“Because this pineapple could not only be planted singly but can also be planted with other crops such as oil palm, rubber and so on,” explained Salleh.
“So we take this spirit where we establish cooperation with various government and private agencies, large estates, large private industry players such as Felda and FGV (where) we establish strategic cooperation by encouraging pineapple cultivation to be done together with existing commodities.
“This is one of our strategies, otherwise we cannot achieve our target because the land in Malaysia is limited.”
Salleh said the increase in production is set to drive export growth with pineapple export expected to increase five per cent per year during the 12MP period (2021-2025).
Malaysia exports pineapples to more than 20 countries with Singapore, Egypt, UAE, China and Japan its top markets.
