Collaborative pineapple farming takes off in Rompin

Sheikh Umar (centre, in white shirt) showing MD2 pineapples headed to Japan, with farmers as well as staff of Agrobank and MPIB. They are showing hand signs for pineapples.

PINEAPPLE contract farming has proven to be successful in increasing income for planters, especially youths.

Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB) chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said this as he attended a launch ceremony for export of MD2 Malaysian pineapples to Japan by Aqina Food Industries.

“The company has managed to break into a new market in Osaka. I am interested in their contract farming concept.

“Currently, the company is cultivating MD2 pineapples on at least 101.1ha of plantation land in Pekoti Timur in Rompin, Pahang.

“I have been told that 20 youths are participating in the contract farming programme and more will be joining from time to time,” he said at the ceremony in Rompin.

He added that the participants had been following the programme for more than two years.

Each participant is given 2.02ha of land by the company to cultivate MD2 pineapples for the six years.

Sheikh Umar lauded the programme for opening opportunities for youths to generate a decent income.

Through the cooperation of Aqina and Agrobank, he said, loans amounting to more than RM200,000 had been issued for each round of crops.

“Training was given by the company on managing seeds, handling the fertilisation process, treating the soil and so on.

“As a result, top-quality MD2 pineapples have been produced,” he said, adding that the company also provided financial management guidance to participants.

Sheikh Umar revealed that the participants were earning about RM4,000 monthly, with almost all of them having settled their car and student loans.

“I believe this community partnership concept involving the public and private sectors must be applied in the agricultural sector in Malaysia to get more youths involved.

“Business entities can make a profit but they must share the responsibility of helping farmers increase income,” he said.

Sheikh Umar said the concept further increased participants’ skills to face challenging economic situations.

He added that as MPIB chairman, he would ensure that close cooperation with the private sector would be intensified so that the economic overflow of the pineapple industry could be enjoyed by more people.