Cash crop: Idle land can be used to plant pineapples because there are many young entrepreneurs already doing it in Johor, says Prof Mad Nasir.
PETALING JAYA: Idle land can be tapped by small entrepreneurs to meet the high demand for pineapple for both the local and export markets, says Prof Datuk Dr Mad Nasir Shamsudin.
The Universiti Putra Malaysia agricultural economics expert said there were many plots of idle land in villages no longer used by older farmers.
“Many of these villagers have children who support them, so their lands are sitting idle. As such, young entrepreneurs can rent them to grow crops while earning an income.
“This idle land can be used to plant pineapples because there are many young entrepreneurs already doing it in Johor. It is also useful as the demand for pineapple is consistent.
“As our income increases, the per capita consumption of food also keeps increasing, and by cultivating idle land, we are presented with the opportunity to meet local demand,” he told The Star yesterday.
He was responding to Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB) chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali’s recent comment about how the industry is facing problems in meeting demand.
The export demand is 4,000 containers per year, but the industry is only able to supply 800 containers, thus plantations need to be expanded, said Sheikh Umar, who also suggested that planting needs to be intensified in Sabah and Sarawak.
Prof Mad Nasir said using pockets of idle land, the ability of pineapple to grow everywhere, and easy harvesting were factors to be considered by young entrepreneurs.
Despite being labour-intensive at its initial stage, growing pineapples as an export crop can help narrow the country’s trade deficit, he added.
Incorporated Society of Planters chairman Datuk Daud Amatzin said getting more women to be part of the agriculture industry can also help increase pineapple production.
Describing pineapple as a cash crop, he said in every kind of production, optimum management of resources is key.
“From my experience, I have seen many women who are top oil palm growers in Malaysia. Same goes for palm oil (mill) engineers, so we must get rid of the stigma that this industry is not for women because more female agronomists are actively joining the sector.
“They can pursue multicrop businesses. For example, pineapple can be intercropped with oil palm during (the latter’s) young and replanting stages,” he said.
Daud said dedication to the long haul is a must, and one must not look at quick gains given that plantation agriculture is a long-term investment, labour intensive, subject to climatic conditions, and requires skilled people to do the job.
“In my 50 years of planting cocoa, coffee, coconut, pepper, oil palm, and rubber, (I’ve seen that) passion and dedication are needed. But these days, people are in a hurry to make a quick profit.
“Oil palm is sustainable as a result of the hard work of our forefathers, based on scientific knowledge and development as well as continuous research based on actual studies and experiments.
“So, it is best if we give opportunities to women and young Malaysians to serve in the fields,” he said.
In 2023, the export value of various pineapple-based products such as fresh pineapple, canned pineapple, and the bromeliad industry amounted to RM5.75bil.
Under the MPIB Strategic Plan, an additional 3,000ha of pineapple plantations and increasing production up to 700,000 tonnes are targeted by this year.
