Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan (centre) with LIGS officials at Sepanggar Port, celebrating Sabah’s first export of MD2 pineapples under the IPR INTAN programme.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has officially exported its first batch of MD2 fresh pineapples under the Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat - Usahawan Tani (IPR Intan) project.
The first shipment, consisting of one container carrying 15 metric tons of MD2 pineapples worth RM45,000, was sent to Rompin Integrated Pineapple Industries (Rompine) during a launch ceremony at Sepanggar Port, on Tuesday (Feb 25).
“This is not just a regular shipment but a symbol of success for small farmers in Sabah who are now transitioning into high-value modern agriculture,” said Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who officiated the event.
The MD2 pineapple cultivation project, overseen by the Sabah Rubber Industry Board (LIGS), was initiated under the IPR INTAN programme.
According to LIGS chairman Senator Datuk Edward Linggu, the project has received over RM31mil in funding, covering 500 acres of land and involving 450 participants. As of January 2025, 285 acres have been developed in Kota Marudu, with the first harvest now reaching the market.
Jeffrey, who is also the state’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister, said that an additional RM16mil has been allocated to expand the programme, with the state government committed to further mobilising rural communities to develop idle land for agricultural purposes.
"There are vast areas of underutilised land in Sabah that are not part of forest reserves or national parks, and we want to turn them into productive farms.
“I also ask LIGS to promote planting SBS (Sabah Volcanic Sweet variety of pineapples) as an effort to promote a product that we must ensure as Sabah's product," he said.
The success of the pineapple export initiative is expected to lead to more agricultural exports as Sabah seeks to strengthen its position in the national and international markets.
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