KOTA SAMARAHAN: Sarawak is on track to become Malaysia’s top pineapple-producing state within the next few years, driven by aggressive expansion efforts and growing interest among local agropreneurs.
Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) Director-General, Mohd Khairuzamri M. Saleh, said that Sarawak currently ranks second after Johor but could soon overtake the southern state due to its abundance of land, strong market enthusiasm, and well-coordinated industry movement on the ground.
“I believe in just three to four more years, Sarawak will emerge as the number one contributor to Malaysia’s pineapple output.
“The momentum here is very encouraging, and the commitment from growers and stakeholders is clear,” he said during the launch of the Customer Engagement Day and Presentation of Incentive Aid for the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) Sarawak Projects at Dewan Pertubuhan Peladang Sarawak today.
He added that Sarawak’s rapid rise reflects a “very aggressive movement” that has already caught the attention of producers in Peninsular Malaysia.
“We at LPNM feel the heat of that excitement. Johor, where I’m from, is beginning to feel the competition, and that’s a good thing,” added.
He is also optimistic that the surge in Sarawak’s output will significantly contribute to national food security and agro-based export growth.
Khairuzamri also revealed that Sarawak’s pineapple sector has already exceeded its income target under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
“Based on data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), farmers planting the MD2 variety on one hectare of land recorded an average monthly income of almost RM9,000. This surpasses our 12MP goal of RM8,000,” he said.
Looking ahead to 13MP, the Board has set a new benchmark of RM10,000 monthly income per farmer, a figure that Khairuzamri believes is achievable with the right support and market access.
He also introduced Sarawak Gold 1 (SG-1), a premium variety developed in the state that is expected to revolutionise productivity in the sector.
“With a shorter maturity period of only nine months, compared to MD2 which takes almost two years, SG-1 enables two harvest cycles in the time MD2 completes one.
“This means that instead of 30 tonnes, farmers can harvest up to 60 tonnes within two years from the same land area.
“It’s a game changer, especially for the processing industry that demands high raw supply,” he added.
He stated that Sarawak currently has 150 hectares under SG-1 cultivation, with interest now growing in Peninsular Malaysia following its introduction.
To further strengthen the industry, LPNM has registered 16 pineapple varieties but will focus on those with the highest market and agronomic potential, namely MD2, SG-1, and Morries.
“Not every variety will be promoted at scale. Each has its own strength and suitability. For now, we are concentrating on the three that show strong commercial viability,” he added.
The event, officiated by the Permanent Secretary to the Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Ministry, Datuk Sirai Daha, was attended by over 200 participants, including industry players, government agencies, and local farmers, who also took part in briefings and engagement sessions with LPNM officials.
