KPK To Increase Malaysia's Premium Pepper Production To 39,000 Tonnes By 2030
KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) aims to increase Malaysia’s premium pepper production to 39,000 tonnes by 2030, compared to an estimated 33,000 tonnes in 2026, said Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii.
He said this is part of efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on raw pepper exports and strengthen the development of high-quality downstream products.
“The ministry is implementing this market transition in stages but continuously under the action plan for the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) from 2026 to 2030.
“Although the ministry has not set a specific percentage for the reduction in raw pepper exports, we have a clear production target,” he said during the Special Chamber session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to a supplementary question from Dato Dr Richard Rapu @ Aman anak Begri (GPS-Betong) about a clear target or timeline for reducing dependence on raw pepper exports and shifting to exports of high-impact downstream products, similar to the palm oil industry.
He added that a total of nine pepper-based research and development (R&D) projects have been identified for potential transfer, commercialisation, or licensing to industry players during the 2026-2030 period.
To support the effort, Huang said the Malaysian Pepper Board (MPB) has received RM45.83 million allocation under the 13MP Rolling Plan 1 in 2026 to implement 10 development programmes, including the establishment of the National Pepper Industry Research and Development Centre, valued at RM20 million, as an integrated downstream R&D hub.
He said the ministry is also committed to accelerating the commercialisation of R&D results through the micro, small and medium enterprise ecosystem and industry collaboration.
To date, 1,153 entrepreneurs have been trained through 53 entrepreneurial training programmes, and 228 pepper-based retail products have been successfully developed and marketed.
In addition, machinery assistance worth RM590,000 has been distributed to 42 entrepreneurs to increase the production capacity of downstream products.
“MPB has also strengthened collaboration via a memorandum of understanding with the Malaysian Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Institute from 2023 to 2028, and a proposed collaboration with Ajinomoto Malaysia Bhd to explore the potential of functional food flavour products,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
