Malaysia’s pineapple industry reaches billion-ringgit milestone

JOHOR BARU: Malaysia’s pineapple industry has become a billion-ringgit sector, with farmers earning up to RM9,000 a month, marking a significant milestone in the country’s agri-food success story.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu announced that the nation recorded RM1.3bil in pineapple output value in 2024, reflecting a 34% increase from the previous year.

He noted that the country’s pineapple production volume rose 17% to 520,000 metric tonnes, cultivated across 13,000ha of productive farmland.

“This shows that pineapples are not just a fruit we enjoy, but a true engine of rural economic development,” he said in his speech at the inaugural Malaysian Pineapple Day celebration held at a shopping mall on Friday (June 27).

Mohamad added that Malaysia now has more than 8,000 pineapple growers and over 300 companies involved in the sector, ranging from small to large-scale operations.

He stated that the self-sufficiency level for pineapples has reached 103%, allowing Malaysia to meet its domestic demand and expand its export potential.

Mohamad Sabu highlighted the case of a Johor farmer who doubled his income from RM180,000 to RM350,000 annually by integrating drone technology into his operations.

In Pahang, the Hijrah Asnaf Pineapple Farming programme has helped 18 participants, mainly from underprivileged groups, earn monthly incomes of up to RM5,000 after just a few months of cultivation.

“The Federal Government has allocated RM75 million for pineapple development in Sarawak under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12). Farmers in Ulu Moyan three are already producing 50 tonnes of pineapples monthly and have set up their own processing facilities,” he added.

Mohamad also commended Sarawak’s innovation in using pineapple waste as livestock feed and the launch of the new Sarawak Gold (SG1) variety as an alternative to the MD2 premium hybrid.

“This shows a strong commitment from the Sarawak government to turn pineapple into a strategic commodity while supporting green economy principles,” he said.

In Kedah, artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite imaging are being used to monitor crops, boosting yield by 30% while reducing operational costs by 40%.

He said these advances in technologies are helping prepare Malaysia to meet growing demand from foreign markets like China and Singapore.

“Under the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan, the ministry aims to expand cultivated land to 30,000 hectares, increase production to 1 million metric tonnes, and double pineapple exports from 2,300 to 4,000 containers annually,” he added.

Mohamad also noted that Johor remains the top pineapple-producing state in the country, contributing 68% of total cultivated land, thanks to strong collaboration with the state government.

He urged more states, private firms, and individuals to participate in the pineapple sector, highlighting that the crop is now both a national asset and a symbol of rural transformation.