By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, July 18: The Sarawak Gold One (SG1) variety has been identified as the primary driver of pineapple industry development in Sarawak’s Northern Zone under a zone-based development strategy that considers land suitability and the unique potential of each area.
Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said the approach reflects the government’s commitment to developing the Sarawak’s pineapple industry in a more structured, sustainable, and competitive manner.
He explained that pineapple development in the Central Zone, encompassing Sibu, Mukah, and Sarikei, will involve a mix of suitable varieties, while the Southern Zone will focus on commercially established varieties such as MD2 and N36.
“Each zone has its own strengths and suitable pineapple varieties. In the Northern Zone, our focus is on SG1,” he said in a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news following a press conference during an official working visit to Ning Planters Farm in Tukau on Wednesday (July 15).
Dr Rundi emphasised that the development of the pineapple industry now extends beyond cultivation and encompasses the entire value chain, including processing, research and development (R&D), training, marketing, and the adoption of modern technologies.
He noted that this integrated approach is expected to strengthen the competitiveness of Sarawak’s pineapple industry while creating greater economic opportunities for local farmers and entrepreneurs.
According to him, the successful development of the SG1 variety will require sustained support through research initiatives, technical training, and advisory services to ensure consistent production and high-quality yields.
He added that the modernisation of the pineapple industry also presents an opportunity to attract more young people into agriculture, as the sector increasingly adopts technology-driven and business-oriented practices.
Earlier, Dr Rundi, accompanied by Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, visited what is set to become Malaysia’s largest pineapple processing facility, valued at RM70 million and expected to begin operations by the end of the year.
The factory, with a processing capacity of 9,750 tonnes, will be capable of handling approximately 11 tonnes of pineapples per hour, underscoring the need for a stable and sufficient supply of raw materials.
Dr Rundi said the facility will play a key role in supporting SG1 production through contract farming arrangements and strategic partnerships with smallholders.
Among those present were Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) Sarawak director Mohd Nazaiful Azdi Rahman, Ning Planters director Dato’ Yap Foot Loy, and Miri Division Agriculture Officer Chong Mui Sia. — DayakDaily
