Johor seeks to revitalise pepper industry, cut reliance on imports

The Star

9 hours ago

JOHOR BARU: Johor is aiming to become a major contributor to the country's pepper industry by revitalising local cultivation and encouraging greater participation among farmers and agro-entrepreneurs.
State agriculture, agro-based industry and rural development committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said Peninsular Malaysia continues to rely heavily on imported pepper despite the crop's high market value and domestic potential.
'Each year, more than 3,300 tonnes of pepper are imported into Peninsular Malaysia, with a total value exceeding RM86mil.
'This reflects the significant gap between local production and national demand, and also shows the vast potential for the industry to be expanded here,' he said here yesterday.
He added that pepper, whether black or white, remains a high-value commodity with strong global demand, and Malaysia has the right climate and agricultural knowledge to cultivate the crop successfully.
He said the Johor government is committed to strengthening local pepper production and welcomes more players into the sector.
Zahari added that these efforts were aligned with the bigger goal of enhancing national food and spice security, while reducing dependence on imported agricultural commodities.
In an effort to boost output, Zahari said the state government allocated RM500,000 last year to gradually revive and expand pepper-planting activities in Johor.
He said the initiative is expected to open up an additional 10ha of farmland and involves between 40 and 50 new participants.
'The allocation will also support the planting of about 20,000 new pepper trees across selected sites in the state.
'This targeted expansion will not only increase production but also improve income opportunities for smallholders and encourage youth involvement in agriculture,' he added.