Malaysia Exported US$9 Million Worth "MD2" Pineapples, Says Minister

JOHOR BAHARU (Malaysia), Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia exported 1,200 metric tonnes of "MD2" species pineapple worth US$9 million last year, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar said Sunday. He said agriculture-based companies should plant the pineapple, also known as "Dinar Pineapple", as the fruit has vast growth potential and high demand, , particularly from Middle East countries. "Besides Middle East, we also export the fruit to Europe. We also have received requests to supply to Australia," he said. The demand for the pineapple is expected to soar if the government's negotiations with China to make the fruit yet another export product to that country after durian materialise, he told reporters after launching planting of the MD2 pineapples by Kulim Malaysia Berhad (KULIM) in Ulu Tiram Estate. However, the MD2 pineapple is planted in only 14,164 hectares to date, of which, 8,094 hectares are in Johor, while the rest are scattered in other states. "To meet the high export demand, we need to plant the fruit in at least 18,210.85 hectares," he said. To increase MD2 pineapple cultivation, Noh said the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board and the East Coast Economic Region Development Council have acquired 2,023.43 hectares in Rompin. Noh said the board had also applied for 2,023.43 hectares in Endau, near Mersing, from the Johor Government. As MD2 pineapple shoots are costly, the minister suggested agro-based firms to sign contracts with pineapple smallholders to produce the shoots, thus helping them to reap the economic spinoffs from the booming pineapple industry, besides increasing MD2 pineapple production. Noh also advised existing pineapple smallholders to switch their crop to MD2 species in the new planting season given the 30 to 40 per cent higher price from other pineapple varieties. Meanwhile, KULIM, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Johor Tropical Products Sdn Bhd, which has been buying MD2 shoots from the Philippines, each costing RM2, since 2008, has planted the shoots in the 150-hectare Ulu Tiram Estate. The company, which has started shifting from oil palm to pineapple planting, is inviting interested parties to join in as smart partners or under contract farming to strengthen the MD2 pineapple industry. The company aims to expand the hectarage under MD2 pineapple cover to 1,000 hectares. -- BERNAMA