KUCHING: The Malaysian Pepper Board (MPB) has cut compliance costs for local pepper industry players following key service delivery enhancements under the Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform (RKB) project.
Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii said merchant registration processing times have been reduced from 15 days to five days, while the issuance of the Certificate of Analysis Origin has been accelerated from 11 days to six days.
“These enhancements not only accelerate processes, but also facilitate seamless access to MPB’s services for smallholders and industry players,” he said when delivering a speech on behalf of Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad at the MPB Excellence Awards ceremony at the Sheraton Kuching Hotel here, last night (Sept 17).
Huang highlighted that MPB received three Certificates of Appreciation for the successful implementation of the RKB initiatives.
The board has also streamlined pepper grading, permit applications and certification issuance through the implementation of digital applications such as e-Penggredan and Permit Lada.
To modernise pepper crop management, MPB introduced mobile applications including Dr. LADA, LadaGo, and NutriLada to help growers identify plant diseases, pests and nutrient deficiencies.
Huang added that the board is leveraging smart agricultural technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT)-based fertigation systems, drone imagery, and hyperspectral technology to monitor farm conditions.
“MPB is also collaborating with the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) to utilise remote sensing technology and geospatial data for strategic industry planning,” he noted.
On downstream development, Huang shared that MPB has guided 77 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the 12th Malaysia Plan, generating 220 pepper-based retail products.
These products, which range from food and beverages to personal care and essential oils, generate an estimated cumulative annual sales value of RM20 million.
Among the guided entrepreneurs, 11 MSMEs achieved Level 4 under the Pepper Entrepreneurship Rating Programme, successfully penetrating international markets, while 42 MSMEs received business funding assistance.
Huang emphasised the importance of maintaining high quality, safety, and traceability standards for Malaysian pepper exports, particularly to Japan, which remains the top export destination for Sarawak pepper.
