BINTULU: Pepper growers have been urged to take advantage of higher prices for the commodity by increasing farm areas.
Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Datuk Chan Foong Hin said it was to accommodate the increasing demand for Malaysian pepper these days.
Bur he acknowledged that pepper growers are faced with challenges like extreme weather changes and the increase in the price of agricultural inputs.
However, he said, despite the challenges faced, the Ministry through the Malaysian Pepper Board (MPB) always strives to ensure every strategy and direction drawn up is comprehensive and covers all levels in the pepper sector.
“Malaysian pepper better known as Sarawak pepper, has until now a place with high demand from overseas such as from Japan, Sweden, China and South Korea because of the guaranteed high quality of local pepper.
“The average price of local pepper has shown a continuous increase for the first six months of 2024. The increase in the price of this commodity is a positive development for small local pepper farmers.”
Chan said this after meeting two active pepper farmers in the area, Tuai Rumah Sait Jaya and Benson Timboo, in conjunction with a working visit on Saturday.
During the visit to Sait and Benson’s pepper garden, he also spent time chatting with the gardeners and delving into the issues and challenges faced in cultivating pepper plants.
In the meantime, he informed that until June this year, there are a total of 1,248 active pepper growers in Bintulu Division with pepper involving 209.90 hectares.
