Malaysia targets 10,000ha cocoa cultivation by 2030 to meet growing demand
Plantation and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the target is part of the Plantation Sector Cocoa Cultivation Promotion Programme – an initiative by the ministry and the Malaysian Cocoa Board to accelerate expansion through the plantation sector.
"This means an additional 4,000ha of cocoa cultivation by 2030. To achieve this, we have introduced the programme to drive expansion through the plantation sector," he said during the question-and-answer session.
Chan was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Lo Su Fui (GRS–Tawau) on measures to encourage cocoa cultivation in Sabah.
In reply to a supplementary question from Dr Halimah Ali (PN–Kapar) on efforts to improve cocoa varieties, Chan said one of the government's initiatives was to brand and promote premium local cocoa products as single-origin and fine-flavour cocoa.
Based on last year's data, the average price of dry cocoa beans surged 141 per cent to RM24,274 per metric tonne, compared with RM10,073 the previous year.
"Through such an approach, cocoa producers can showcase the distinctive taste of locally grown cocoa, which can attract both local and international chocolate makers.
"The ministry, together with the board, also provides various forms of assistance to help farmers continue cultivating cocoa, including fertilisers to improve soil fertility and structure.
"We also provide cocoa seeds and pesticides, whether to plantation companies or smallholders," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
7 minutes ago
- Borneo Post
Sabah PH-GRS seat talks still unsettled
TAWAU (Aug 12): Negotiations on seat allocations between Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) for the 17th state election remain unresolved. Sabah DAP deputy chairman Datuk Chan Foong Hin dismissed claims that GRS demanded 50 seats while PH would contest 23, labelling them 'political speculation'. 'The seat negotiations are not finalised. I don't even know the numbers,' said Chan, who is also Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister. 'We'll enter the 'ring' respectfully once a decision is made.' He was speaking to reporters after officiating at a pepper cultivation promotion programme here Tuesday. Commenting on speculation that the election (PRN17) could be held on September 7 following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's planned visit to Sabah, the Kota Kinabalu MP stated the dissolution date falls under the Chief Minister's authority. 'I don't know when the Prime Minister will visit, let alone the dissolution date.' Separately, Chan expressed Sabah DAP's confidence in defending all six seats it won in the last election, including Sri Tanjung and Elopura – now held by Warisan after the incumbents defected. Earlier, Chan said the local pepper industry recorded continuous price increases in the first seven months of this year. 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. 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 Tuesday's programme.
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
GRS-PH cooperation formula to continue - Hajiji
Hajiji greeted by the people upon arrival at the Nunuk Ragang Memorial open-air hall on Tuesday. RANAU (Aug 12): Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor reiterated that the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) supreme council has agreed to maintain the present formula of cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the upcoming state election. He said history has shown that a state government needs to have a strong relationship with the Federal Government. 'We want strong ties with the Federal Government. We want stability and we hope the people will understand that we are doing the best for them. To bring prosperity to them,' he said this during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Paginatan new township held at the Nunuk Ragang Memorial open-air hall, near here on Tuesday. The Chief Minister said the present GRS-PH State Government's track record of bringing progress to Sabah has been proven. 'We have more than 400 initiatives under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya development agenda, and about 94 per cent of them have already been implemented,' he said. Hajiji said this was contrary to the opposition's claim, which he said was intended to pull wool over the people's eyes. Hajiji said the GRS-PH government had approved numerous assistance programmes for the state's education development and people's prosperity, which had never been done by other state governments before. 'This year alone, we are giving monthly assistance of RM300 to nearly 100,000 hardcore poor, and this initiative will be continued if the people returned the mandate to GRS-PH in the coming election,' he said. He also said that the GRS-PH State Government had succeeded in getting greater participation in the oil and gas sector through the historic signing of the Commercial Collaborative Agreement (CCA) with Petronas in 2021. Earlier, he said that the State Government, through the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (SHTDA), is committed to continuing its agenda of addressing urban and rural poverty in the state through the new township development programme. He said the long-awaited Paginatan New Township project is expected to drive the local economy in the area, in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development roadmap, which at its core, aims at prioritising the well-being of the people and improving their quality of life. The 200-acre new township, located approximately 43 km from here, will be developed in five phases, involving the construction of various important amenities, including government offices, shops, low-cost housing, multi-purpose hall, library, health centre, market, police and fire stations. Once completed, the people in Paginatan would no longer have to go to Ranau or Telupid to deal with government departments, he said. Hajiji also assured that issues affecting the people in Paginatan constituency that were raised by its assemblyman, Datuk Abidin Madingkir, would be addressed. Next Article Kimanis energy project to boost Sabah's grid in Oct
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Hajiji pledges stability through GRS–Pakatan cooperation as Sabah polls loom
KOTA KINABALU, Aug 12 — Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has reiterated that the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) supreme council has agreed to maintain its current formula of cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the upcoming state election. The GRS chairman said history has shown that a state government needs a strong relationship with the federal government to ensure stability and economic growth. 'We want strong ties with the federal government. We want stability, and we hope the people will understand that we are doing the best for them — to bring prosperity to them,' he said during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Paginatan New Township in Ranau. Hajiji said the GRS–PH partnership has been delivering progress for Sabah, with some 94 per cent of more than 400 initiatives under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya development plan already implemented. 'This is contrary to the Opposition's claim, which is intended to pull the wool over the people's eyes,' he said. He added that the GRS–PH government had approved numerous assistance programmes for education development and public welfare — initiatives he said had never been undertaken by previous state administrations. 'This year alone, we are giving monthly assistance of RM300 to nearly 100,000 hardcore poor, and this initiative will continue if the people return the mandate to GRS–PH in the coming election,' he said. Hajiji also pointed to the administration's success in securing greater participation in the oil and gas sector through the historic signing of the Commercial Collaborative Agreement (CCA) with Petronas in 2021. He said such initiatives are part of the government's broader commitment to eradicating poverty in the state, including through the new township development programme. The long-awaited Paginatan New Township project, he added, is expected to boost the local economy in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development roadmap, which prioritises the well-being of the people and aims to improve their quality of life. Covering 200 acres and located about 43km from Kota Kinabalu, the new township will be developed in five phases. It will include government offices, shops, low-cost housing, a multi-purpose hall, library, health centre, market, as well as police and fire stations. Once completed, residents of Paginatan will no longer need to travel to Ranau or Telupid to access government services, he said.
