Ministry plans to expand pepper sector covering farming, products

Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali is eyeing on expanding the country’s pepper sector.

He said the ministry had agreed that it was time to expand not just pepper and pepper products, but also other various spices in order to go even further in the world’s market.

Back on pepper, he said his ministry would also expand its planting in Peninsular Malaysia.

“I have directed those in my ministry to study several places that have the potential for us to expand pepper planting and production,” he told reporters in a press conference held after the National Pepper Industry Research and Development Centre (PlLN) project briefing in Semenggok near here yesterday.

Still on pepper, he said the ministry would also continue assisting small-scale farmers in terms of provision of agriculture input.

He said since his appointment as the minister in charge of plantation and commodities, the ministry had arranged for a huge allocation to assist the pepper farmers.

In this regard, he said RM16.11 million had been slated for pepper farmers who were affected by the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) last year.

“We will continue with what we’ve been doing, and we will apply for the allocation under the 12MP (12th Malaysia Plan) because for us, agriculture input is very important for the pepper farmers.

“In fact, we are working together with the state Agriculture Department to assist the small-scale pepper farmers in Sarawak.”

The minister also observed that there had been an increase in pepper price after some declines registered during the initial stage.

“Pepper price now has increased by 60 per cent from the normal price. Now the price of white pepper is RM21,000 per tonne, and black pepper at RM12,000 per tonne.

“I hope the increase in pepper prices would motivate the people to go to their pepper farms again and intensify this industry,” he added.

It is reported that last year, Malaysia exported only 8,000 tonnes of both black and white pepper due to the MCO; this year, the export volume of this commodity is expected to increase to 10,000 tonnes.