DOSM 2024 Agricultural Census Identifies Kenaf, Napier Grass, Seaweed As High-potential Crops
SERDANG, May 29 (Bernama) -- The 2024 Agricultural Census findings indicate potential in cultivating new crops such as kenaf, Napier grass and seaweed, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin.
Mohd Uzir said the findings also show that kenaf recorded a planting area of 1,497.0 hectares (ha) with an output of 9,916.1 tonnes, while Napier grass recorded an area of 1,387.7 ha and an output of 35,687 tonnes.
'These industries possess a great potential in terms of value addition, exports, and the production of downstream products, where the supply chain needs to be strengthened to drive the growth of this segment," he said in a statement issued in conjunction with the launch of the 2024 Interim Agricultural Census report today.
He said the plantation industry such as coffee, coconut, and cocoa, has also shown a decline in terms of land area, productivity, and the number of active entrepreneurs. However, the industry still holds significant strategic value and can be revitalised through modern, planned and integrated approaches.
For example, local coffee varieties still attract international attention due to the global demand for high-quality coffee.
Cocoa, which previously was among the country's main exports, now plays only a small role in the agricultural sector's contribution to the economy.
'For the coconut industry, although it is no more considered competitive, its potential in producing value-added products cannot be overlooked. The recovery of this industry can be achieved through mechanisation and modernisation of farms to change the perception that coconuts are a traditional crop to a profitable one," he said.
Besides community crops, fruits and vegetables, the agricultural census also includes industrial crops, cash crops, and herbs classified under other agricultural activities.
For the capture fisheries sector, Mohd Uzir said it is one of the main sectors in Malaysia's fisheries industry that contributes to domestic fish supply as well as exports abroad.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysian Reserve
an hour ago
- Malaysian Reserve
N.Sembilan ready to welcome arrival of delegates attending ASEAN meeting
PORT DICKSON — The Negeri Sembilan government is ready to welcome the arrival of delegates who will be attending several meetings in conjunction with Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, which is scheduled to be held at a hotel here on Sept 9-10. State Tourism, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Nicole Tan said their preparations included aspects such as cleanliness, beautification, landscaping and programme content that will highlight the unique culture and traditions of Negeri Sembilan, particularly the state's unique adat perpatih. 'Our preparations are almost complete, just a few areas that need further improvement to ensure everything is in perfect order for us to welcome the arrival of the delegates. 'This welcome reception will also be a platform to promote the Visit Negeri Sembilan Year 2026 by showcasing the state's cultural uniqueness, scenic views, traditional local cuisine, warm hospitality and tourist attractions,' she told reporters after officiating the launch of the Port Dickson Festival 2025 here yesterday. Several ASEAN-related meetings and programmes are scheduled to be held in Negeri Sembilan on Sept 9-10, including the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) for ASEAN Plus Three (APT) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), in addition to the 15th ASEAN Maritime Forum and 13th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum. Malaysia officially took over the ASEAN Chairmanship on Jan 1, with the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'. Malaysia has previously chaired ASEAN in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. Meanwhile, Tan said that 10,000 visitors are expected to attend the four-day Port Dickson Festival, which began Thursday, involving 60 traders, including influencers. — BERNAMA
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Cambodian women rising to tap global fishery products market
Using modern techniques in the post-harvesting, drying fish in a solar dryer dome. - Photo Unido Cambodia PHNOM PENH: (Bernama) Cambodian women are stepping up in the fishery products sector, transforming their roles from traditional producers to key players in the global market. Enterprising women entrepreneurs, dominating at least 60 per cent of the micro and small informal enterprises, are now upgrading their post-harvest processing skills in the fishery sector to penetrate high-end markets. The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation's (Unido) Capfish-Capture - a post-harvest fisheries development project - is helping Cambodian women to upskill, shifting from their archaic fish processing techniques to world-recognised standards. "We supported over 51 fishery enterprises and their value chain actors in upgrading their businesses. Thirty-five of these enterprises are led by women and three persons with disabilities. "We are now linking them with global buyers from the EU (European Union). Some of the enterprises have already started exporting to China, South Korea and Australia,' Unido's Capfish-Capture Chief Technical Advisor Dr Shetty Seetharama Thombathu told Bernama. Capfish-Capture is a five-year project, co-funded by the European Union and implemented by Unido in coordination with the Cambodia Fisheries Administration. Women dominate the post-harvest process of fishery activities inCambodia. - Photo UnidoCambodia Fishing is a vital economic lifeline for Cambodia. About six million people are employed both directly and indirectly in the domestic fisheries sector. The post-harvest fishery activities alone employ an estimated 33,000 workers, the majority of them are women. Fish remains a staple diet for Cambodians and their per capita consumption of fish is 54 kilogrammes, considered higher among its Asean peers. Cambodian Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry revealed that total fisheries and aquaculture production reached 926,936 metric tonnes last year. Locally-made fishery products - fish sauce, fermented fish, fish balls, and smoked fish - are widely produced but seldom exported due to a lack of value addition and food safety compliance. According to Unido, Cambodia's low competitiveness in terms of value addition makes it tough to compete in the domestic market flooded with imported fishery products and, at the same time, unable to enter regional or global markets. The Capfish-Capture project has stepped in to revitalise this untapped lucrative sector to compete with high-quality international exporters by equipping local producers with modern techniques. "The ultimate goal is to boost the competitiveness of the fishery products to promote trade, both domestic and export, and to protect public health by ensuring safe and high-quality fishery products for consumers. "We work on various issues and elements of the value chain such as governance, food safety, capacity building and skills development, marketing and branding, access to finance, research and development, gender empowerment, environment and climate resilience,' said Shetty. Cambodia's new success story is going beyond its borders. Neighbouring Indonesia and the Philippines, where the fishing industry plays a critical role in their economy, are recognising the Capfish-Capture project. Meanwhile, Egypt, Chile and Kyrgyzstan have expressed their willingness to replicate Unido's training model. "Listing Cambodia as an eligible country to export to the EU is our main goal. We have already established all the requirements to meet EU food safety requirements and are ready for an audit by DG SANTE (European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety),' said Shetty. Cambodian women are now shining in the often-neglected and shunned occupation by many due to its laborious work and paltry income. But the fortunes could now favour them. - Bernama
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
Malaysia Secures RM8 Bln In Potential Investments At Expo 2025 Osaka
BUSINESS Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof delivers a speech before officiating the opening of the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka today. From Karina Imran OSAKA, May 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has successfully secured more than RM8 billion in potential investments and signed 20 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) through its participation at Expo 2025 Osaka, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation and chairperson of Malaysia's National Organising Committee for Expo 2025, said this achievement, involving 101 companies, represents 61.54 per cent of the overall RM13 billion target that was previously set. 'I am confident that with our coming initiatives over the next four months, we will not only surpass our target but also unlock new opportunities for Malaysians. The success of our participation will pave the way for job creation while further strengthening bilateral ties with Japan and other global partners. 'So together, we reaffirm Malaysia's role as a trusted global partner in shaping a future built on innovation and collaboration,' he said at the press conference after officiating the opening ceremony of the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan, today. Also present at the official opening ceremony were Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong, Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan Datuk Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany and Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. In addition to the digital economy, Fadillah highlighted the green economy, Japanese technologies, and global participation in Expo 2025 as key opportunities for Malaysia to explore. He noted that these opportunities position Sarawak not only as a hub for energy, particularly green energy, leveraging its hydropower resources, but also as a central player in Malaysia's Hydrogen Economy Roadmap and Energy Transition Roadmap.
