LPNM To Introduce Pineapple Night Farming Next Year To Boost Productivity, Income

MELAKA, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) will introduce a night farming method nationwide next year to increase farmers’ productivity and income.

LPNM director-general Mohd Khairuzamri M Salleh said preliminary studies showed that night farming, using solar-powered lighting, allows farmers to fertilise and water the plants when the stomata (pores on its surface) are open, leading to faster growth and higher productivity, as well as savings in operational costs.

"In Malaysia, only two types of crops act this way at night, namely pineapple and dragon fruit. As such, this initiative can maximise the potential of pineapple cultivation,” he told reporters after the launch of the Melaka Pineapple Cultivation and Technology Transfer Programme in Bukit Katil here today.

The programme was officiated by state Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee chairman Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.

Mohd Khairuzamri said that, based on early studies, night farming also enables farmers to cultivate between 3,000 and 6,000 pineapples per night more effectively compared to daytime.

"For example, the harvest period for the MD2 variety is usually 14 months, but it can be shortened to 11 months by using this method,” he said, adding that night farming also enables farmers to earn another source of income through carbon credits.

He said the initiative will use renewable energy sources like solar power for machinery and lighting, as well as crop waste for carbon credit calculations.

"The LPNM is working with SIRIM Berhad and the relevant ministries to establish standards for recognising these carbon credits. Once finalised, the carbon credits will be returned to the farmers and all industry players, making it the ‘fourth harvest’ for pineapples,” he said.

At the same time, he said the targeted pineapple cultivation area under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) is 30,000 hectares nationwide, excluding the 20,000 hectares in Sarawak, which requires a separate private investment strategy.

He said that, in addition, the LPNM is introducing new varieties of pineapples, which are more productive, mature faster and have higher density, to meet the increasing export demand.

-- BERNAMA