The East Malaysian state of Sarawak is committed to developing the tropical fruit industry in the region especially for durian and pineapples. In his inauguration speech to about 450 participants of the Sarawak Pineapple Seminar 2023, State Deputy Minister of food industries, commodity and regional development Datuk Dr. Hj. Abdul Rahman bin Hj. Ismail, representing Sarawak’s Chief Minister, announced plans for the state to increase planted areas and production of pineapples from the current cultivated area of 3,000 hectares to 20,000 hectares by 2030. The seminar was organized by the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board together with International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet), and was held in Kuching, Sarawak on 13 December 2023. As the 3rd largest pineapple growing state in Malaysia, he expressed confidence that with more than 2 million hectares of land available for agriculture and growing market for pineapples, there are big prospects for Sarawak State to be developed into a pineapple production and export hub in the coming years. This was depicted in the theme of the seminar which was ‘Putting Sarawak on the World Pineapple Map’
The Deputy Minister’s vision was echoed by the Chairman of the Malaysian Pineapple Board, Mr. Shiekh Omar Ali who reiterated the potential of developing Sarawak’s pineapple industry to new heights. This is further consolidated, he said, with the introduction of a new premium local sweet variety, the SG1, which takes less than 1 year from planting to harvest, and augurs well as a mainstay highly demanded variety.
Participants of the seminar included those from government agencies, research institutions, universities, and the private sector including growers, exporters, traders, and other industry stakeholders. Speakers of the seminar comprised of local experts and foreign speakers from Indonesia, Vietnam, and International Tropical Fruits Network.
Objectives of the seminar were:
- To share information regarding the status of global pineapple production, consumption and trade.
- To exchange and share information on best practices, new technologies and prospects of mechanization to improve pineapple production, especially among smallholders.
- To deliberate on approaches and policies that can improve local pineapple production, value chain and market access.
- To explore the different processed products of pineapple that can be developed for a more diverse and bigger market.
- To discuss and explore initiatives to manage field and processing waste management.
- To foster networking ties among participants
The presentations were an interesting mix of policies and industry development strategies, regenerative agriculture, production practices in the region, challenges and opportunities, varietal development, waste management and development, and industry entrepreneurship. A keynote on the ‘Sarawak pineapple industry: challenges and opportunities’ was presented by Mr. Mohd. Khairuzamri bin M. Salleh, Director General of the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board, followed by Sarawak Head of Policy and Development, Ministry of Food Industries, Commodity and Regional Development Dr. Gluma Saban, who presented on ‘Sarawak as a producer and exporter of Agrofood products in 2030’. Following this, Mr. Fauzan Khumaedi from Great Giant Pineapple Food Group, Indonesia presented on ‘Regenerative agriculture maximizing yield while ensuring soil health at its optimum level’. Mr. Mohd Taqiuddin bin Zakaria from the Malaysia Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security outlined the ‘Export market opportunities for Sarawak pineapple’ citing incentives offered by the ministry to stakeholders. Other speakers were Prof. Dr. Faizal Daud from University Sjakhyakirti, Sumatra who discussed on ‘The prospects of developing pineapple leaf fibre (PLF) in a circular agricultural production system’, followed by Mr.Hieu Nguyen Thanh, from Southern Horticultural Research Institute, Vietnam whose presentation outlined the ‘Best practices in pineapple production in Vietnam’. Prof. Dr. Larry Wong Chee Yoong, Visiting Fellow from Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia presented on ‘Transforming the Malaysian pineapple industry through value chain enhancement and digital agriculture’. The seminar continued with a presentation on ‘Driving markets and sustaining the pineapple industry through research, best practices and adaptation to climate change’ by Yacob Ahmad of TFNet, after which young entrepreneur Mr. Mohd. Noorhardy bin Mohd. Noorzain, from Urusan Barakah Agribiz Ent, shared his success story in entrepreneurship in developing his pineapple agrotourism initiative.
A mini exhibition displaying fresh and processed pineapple products was also set up outside the seminar hall, to elicit interest among participants.
