PAGOH: Participants who attended a recent talk here were briefed on the benefits of planting pineapples as their main crop to generate income during this Covid-19 pandemic period.
The talk, organised by the Malaysia Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB) was held at the convention hall of the Pagoh Education Hub.
The MD2 pineapple species can mature after just 14 months of planting and participants were encouraged to consider venturing into this to help them cope.
According to MPIB chairman Datuk Dr Sahrudin Jamal, the MD2 species can yield about 17,000 pineapples per acre and a three-acre plot can be managed by any small scale farmer.
"Currently, the market price is between RM5-RM7 per kilogramme and the demand is mainly from China and Europe," he said.
Sahrudin, who is also Bukit Kepong assemblyman said MPIB was given an allocation of RM13.6 million under the Prihatin Budget.
"We will use this to assist farmers to venture into MD2 pineapple farming. A total 16 development programmes are already in place", he said.
MD2 has been a success in the market and MPIB currently collaborates with Felda's Kami Anak Felda Organisation (KAF), the Prison Department, National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) and universities such as UTM to farm and produce MD2 pineapples that still lack in supply to meet demands.
Also present were Saifullah Mat Noor, General Manager of Felda Segamat; Mohd Khairuzamri M Salleh, Deputy Director (Operations and Planning) MPIB; Datuk Mohammad Asri Harris, KAF President; Murad Mohd Chin, Senior Deputy Director SPK Edu Hub Pagoh; and Zianne Gan, Board member of MPIB.