KENINGAU: Sabah's cocoa-producing interior regions have strong potential to be further developed, says Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
These areas include Sook, Tenom, Nabawan, and Sipitang.
"In the first quarter of this year, these areas produced 54 tonnes of dry cocoa beans, contributing 37.5 per cent of the national production total of 144 tonnes," he said after opening a post-harvest technology course and group strengthening programme here.
"Some farmers in these areas have achieved yields of over 1,000 kg per hectare per year, compared to the national productivity average of 100 kg per hectare per year," Johari added.
In 2023, the cocoa industry contributed RM8.2 billion in export revenue. As of May 2024, the export revenue from the cocoa industry has reached RM4.8 billion, approximately 58 per cent of last year's total.
"Currently, there is a significant global shortage of cocoa beans due to reduced production in major cocoa-producing countries like Ivory Coast and Ghana," Johari said.
In response to the increasing demand and high prices for cocoa beans, Johari said the Malaysian Cocoa Board (LKM) has initiated several measures, including the start of the cocoa farm rehabilitation programme from this year until 2026.
He said that the programme will involve 2,084 farmers and 1,344 hectares of cocoa cultivation in Sabah.
"The board will also provide infrastructure support, such as constructing mini cocoa processing facilities that convert wet cocoa beans into high-quality dry cocoa beans."
"LKM is actively conducting research and developing technologies using the Internet of Things or IoT, automation, and mechanisation. The latest technology is expected to enhance farm management efficiency, increase production, and reduce reliance on manual labour."
Johari also added that the board is promoting large-scale cocoa cultivation to estate operators to increase national cocoa bean production and meet the country's cocoa grinding needs.
LKM is also collaborating with several agencies and plantation companies, including United Malacca Bhd and Malaysia Kuwaiti Investment Corporation, for large-scale cocoa cultivation of approximately 400 hectares in Sabah's interior.
He added that the cocoa-growing community in Keningau and Tenom has become a source of cocoa beans for bean-to-bar and single-origin chocolate producers, such as Jaws & Claws Chocolate and Nestlé, which recently launched the Kit Kat Borneo product in May.
Johari and his deputy Datuk Chan Foong Hin also attended the opening of the RM70,000 mini-cocoa processing facility in Kampung Liau, which can process up to 500 kg per batch.
TAGS: Cocoa, industry, Plantation, commodities, Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani, Chan Foong Hin, Keningau, Sabah