Campaign Promoting Local Fruits Intensified To Help Farmers – Mohamad

JOHOR BAHRU, June 27 (Bernama) -- The government will intensify the ‘Eat Local Fruits’ campaign to reduce dependency on imported fruits and help boost the income of farmers nationwide.

Agriculture and Food Safety Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that all federal and state government agencies are encouraged to serve local fruits at every function to show their support.

“The government has been encouraging the people to eat local fruits. We request that local fruits be served at official government functions because we want to prioritise local produce and support our farmers,” he said when opening the 2025 Malaysian Pineapple Day here today.

Mohamad said the campaign will be officially launched in Tawau, Sabah, on July 5 before being gradually expanded to other states, adding that local fruits, including pineapples, durians, jackfruit, and avocados, not only have strong domestic market potential but are also competitive in export markets.

On June 20, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim instructed all government departments to cease using imported goods, especially food, at official events to promote the use of local products.

Mohamad said the directive not only supports the country’s economic growth but also helps expand market opportunities for local farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs. 

He also praised the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) for boosting the country’s pineapple production to over RM1 billion.

“Alhamdulillah, our pineapple production is sufficient for domestic use, and any further increase will be geared towards export. LPNM, the private sector and individuals have answered the government’s call to boost production,” he said.

Mohamad also commended the Sarawak government for developing a new pineapple variety known as Sarawak Gold 1 (SG-1), which has produced high yields and shown strong disease resistance.

“I visited a farm in Sungai Tukau, Miri, and the SG-1 variety has proven to be high-yielding and disease-resistant. It can be harvested earlier, around one year, compared to regular varieties, which typically take about 14 months,” he said, noting that more than one million SG-1 seedlings have already been brought into Peninsular Malaysia for cultivation.

In a separate development, he said as of last year, the total pineapple cultivation area in Malaysia had reached nearly 19,000 hectares, with 13,000 hectares being productive.

“Total production has reached 520,000 metric tonnes with an overall value of RM1.3 billion. This marks a 17 per cent increase in volume and a 34 per cent rise in value compared to 2023,” he said, adding that the increase has directly contributed to higher household incomes, with field data showing that pineapple growers now earn an average of nearly RM9,000 a month.

To date, more than 8,000 growers and 308 small, medium, and large-scale companies are actively involved in the country’s pineapple industry, reflecting the growing public interest in pineapple cultivation.

-- BERNAMA