By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Sept 11: Sarawak is targeting to expand its pineapple cultivation area from 2,199 hectares currently to 20,000 hectares by 2030, with RM80 million allocated under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to support the expansion.
Sarawak Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the allocation, covering 2026 to 2030, includes RM15 million for Phase One in 2026, focusing on the launch and training.
“From 2,199 hectares today, we are targeting 20,000 hectares by 2030.
“From merely selling fresh fruit, we want to build a complete value chain from the farm to the global market,” he said in a speech text read by Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (Food Industry) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail at the launch of the 2026 Sarawak Pineapple Industry Value Chain Course here today.
Dr Rundi said Sarawak currently ranked second in Malaysia in terms of pineapple cultivation area, with 2,199.43 hectares, of which 1,480.10 hectares were productive areas producing 33,231.55 metric tonnes.
At the national level, Malaysia’s pineapple industry recorded a total value of RM1.325 billion in 2024, with production of 516,870.27 metric tonnes from 18,640.76 hectares.
He said Sarawak’s existing figures showed that the State had a strong foundation to develop the pineapple industry more aggressively and systematically, but it should not be complacent with its current achievements.
He also highlighted the potential of Sarawak Gold 1 (SG1) as a premium pineapple variety, with 60 hectares targeted for cultivation this year.
A trial export programme to Singapore is also underway to assess market acceptance, logistics requirements and compliance with export procedures.
“We want SG1 not only to be a variety grown in Sarawak, but potentially developed as a premium product with a Sarawak identity capable of entering regional and international markets,” he said.
Rundi also called for the “Once Planted, Three Harvests” approach to be further developed, where pineapple farmers can generate value not only from the fruit but also from suckers and crop waste.
He said pineapple fruit could be sold fresh or processed, suckers used as planting material, while crop waste could be turned into value-added products such as compost, animal feed and bio-based products.
“This is the circular economy concept that we need to develop,” he said.
He added that the expansion of the industry was not merely about increasing cultivation areas, but also creating more economic opportunities for agropreneurs, processors, marketers, logistics operators, technology providers, exporters and skilled workers, particularly in rural areas.
Rundi said he wanted more Sarawak youths to view pineapple farming as a modern and professional business with a future, noting that agriculture today involved business, technology, data, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The three-day course, organised by the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) Sarawak from Sept 9 to 11 at 56 hotel here, brought together about 200 participants, including pineapple farmers, agro-based entrepreneurs, government and private-sector representatives, and higher learning institutions.
Also present were Beting Maro assemblyman Razaili Gapor; Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (MFICORD) permanent secretary Datu Sirai Daha; LPNM director-general Mohd Khairuzamri M. Salleh; Sarawak Agriculture Department director Dominic Chunggat; and LPNM Sarawak director Mohd Nazaiful Azdi Rahman. — DayakDaily
