TAWAU: The local pepper industry recorded continuous price increases in the first seven months of this year, said Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin.
He said the average price for black pepper has increased by 51 per cent to RM27,240 per tonne compared to RM18,066 per tonne last year.
“Meanwhile, the average price for white pepper also increased by 43 per cent to RM37,407 per tonne compared to RM26,164 per tonne last year.
“This encouraging pepper price trend is expected to persist until the third quarter of this year following the recent strengthening of the ringgit,” he said when officiating at a pepper cultivation promotion programme here today.
He said the pepper commodity is an economic resource generator for 39,449 pepper farmers in Malaysia who cultivate about 8,293 hectares of pepper.
“The total includes 248 farmers in Sabah who cultivate 41 hectares of pepper plantation. I encourage more Sabahans to take the opportunity to get involved in pepper cultivation to increase their income.
“I am of the view that the development of pepper cultivation in Sabah can be implemented by taking into account the advantages of the terrain and hilly topography suitable for pepper cultivation,” he said.
Chan said the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities together with the Malaysian Pepper Board are committed and actively working to guide pepper cultivation entrepreneurs in this country, including through outreach programmes such as in-situ training and today’s programme.
— BERNAMA
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