Increasing income of pineapple traders to RM8,000 a month
Published on: Wednesday, August 03, 2022
By: Bernama
Ahmad Hamzah at the launching of the interactive chatbot app in Putrajaya.
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) aims to increase the average income of pineapple entrepreneurs in the country to RM8,000 a month in the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12), from RM5,000 currently.Its director-general, Mohd Khairuzamri M Salleh, said the board is optimistic of achieving the target with 90 per cent of pineapple entrepreneurs under its programme having been able to earn an average income of RM5,000 a month, thereby removing them from the B40 group.
ADVERTISEMENT
“For RMK12, we are confident that we can help to increase their income through the various assistance offered by LPNM.
“Although pineapple is not a staple food, but we have to look at the potential of pineapple as a whole,” he told Bernama after the launch of the interactive chatbot application Nanas Intelligence Advisor (NIA) here Tuesday.
He said pineapple is not only a source of food, but the plant can be used to make various products, such thread, paper, ruminant animal feed pallets and beauty products.
“When we look at the diversity of this product, one pineapple plant can generate an income of RM50 in the future compared to RM20 currently. This can increase the income of pineapple farmers,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to Mohd Khairuzamri, there are 17,000 hectares of pineapple plantations nationwide with 60 per cent of them in Pontian and Kluang, Johor.
Each hectare can produce 60 tons of pineapple, he said, adding that in line with the National Agro-Food Policy 2021-2030 (DAN 2.0), LPNM aims to increase the country’s pineapple planting area to 20,000 hectares in 2025.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The target is to increase the percentage of MD2 variety pineapple plants from 15 per cent at this point to 50 per cent,” he said.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
