Govt to intensify 'Eat Local Fruits' campaign - minister

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 Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said 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 in Johor Bahru yesterday.

Mohamad said the campaign will be officially launched in Tawau, Sabah, on July 5 before being gradually expanded to other states.

He added that local fruits, including pineapples, durians, jackfruit, and avocados, not only have strong domestic market potential but are also competitive in export markets.

Last Friday (June 20), Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim instructed all government departments to stop using imported goods, especially food, at official events to promote local products.

Mohamad said the directive supports the country’s economic growth and also helps expand market opportunities for local farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs.

Pineapple production

The minister also praised the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board 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.

He noted that more than one million SG-1 seedlings have already been brought into Peninsular Malaysia for cultivation.

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

“Total production has reached 520,000 metric tonnes with an overall value of RM1.3 billion. This marks a 17 percent increase in volume and a 34 percent rise in value compared to 2023,” he said.

He added 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

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