Imports behind drop in S’wak pepper price
SARIKEI: The infiltration of low quality imports has been identified as the main factor contributing to the drop in the price of Sarawak pepper.
Malaysian Pepper Board chairman Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom pointed out that pepper produced in the state is preferred for its high quality and hence used to fetch a good price in the international market.
“Unfortunately, our reputation as producer of high quality pepper has been compromised by unscrupulous importers, who took advantage of the situation to mislead the market by disguising low quality imported products as Sarawak’s before re- exporting them,” the Saratok Member of
Unfortunately, our reputation as producer of high quality pepper has been compromised by unscrupulous importers, who took advantage of the situation to mislead the market by disguising low quality imported products as Sarawak’s before re-exporting them. Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, Malaysian Pepper Board chairman
Parliament told reporters after presenting appointment letters to local community leaders here on Saturday.
To address the problem, he said the board would impose stringent guidelines to control and monitor imports and exports of the commodity.
He stressed Sarawak pepper products for export have to go through stringent quality control processes, while the same could not be said for imports.
“There is simply no system in place to control the infiltration of low quality imported pepper, which has adversely affected the price of our premium pepper products,” he added.
Meanwhile, 61 headmen and one Kapitan in the district received their reappointment letters from Mawan.
He also presented letters to seven newly-appointed headmen.