Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB) chairman Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said the agency was currently in discussion with several e-commerce platforms, checking out whether fresh pineapples can be sent directly from farms to consumers.
Dr Sahruddin said although Malaysia was among the top 20 pineapple producers in the world, its production was largely for the local market. Last year, Malaysia exported about RM492 million worth of pineapple products to over 20 countries – a 43% increase compared to RM343 million in 2019.
Sahruddin: “Some 16,000ha of land are planted with pineapples in the country, with Johor producing about 54% of Malaysia’s total production. We export about 30% of our pineapples to overseas markets while the rest are for local consumption.”
Alas, the recent floods, which hit several states, had caused RM2.9 million in losses to some 79 farmers. The former Johor Mentri Besar said the floods had damaged crops within a 62.55 ha area.
[RM1 = €0.20 ]
