Malaysia's Pepper Export to Reach 15,000 Metric Tonnes in 2017

KUCHING (Sarawak), Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's pepper export is expected to increase to 15,000 metric tonnes this year from 12,199 tonnes worth RM490 million last year, with Japan being its major pepper export destination. Plantation and Commodity Industries Minister Mah Siew Keong said the country’s pepper cultivation area could to reach 17,100 hectares with a total production of 31,000 metric tonnes from 16,768 hectares with a total production of 29,245 last year. He said Sarawak is the main producer of pepper in the country with 98 per cent of 29,614 pepper smallholders in the country coming from the state. Malaysia exported 5,851 metric tonnes of pepper worth RM180.4 million between January and July this year, with Japan being the main export destination, accounting for 1,580 metric tonnes or 27 per cent of the total export, he told a press conference after officiating the 10th Anniversary of the Malaysian Pepper Board and Pepper Festival 2017 here Friday. Various activities are held during the three-day celebration beginning today. They include an agriculture exhibition, a cooking demonstration and various contests. During the event, Mah also launched a recipe book titled "Sarawak Pepper for Your Palate" and a new application known as "Dr Pepper" with the aim of disseminating virtual information and solutions to smallholders on diseases which usually attacked pepper plants. He expressed hope that the celebration would continue to be held in recognition of pepper smallholders’ contribution to the country's achievement as the world's fifth largest pepper producer. Besides numerous achievements made by the Malaysian Pepper Board over a decade since its inception, he said the agency had faced various challenges in pursuing its role to improve the economic status of the rural community, especially pepper smallholders. -- BERNAMA