MIRI: Impressed with what he saw during his visit to the largest MD2 or ‘super sweet’ pineapple (Ananas comosus) plantation in Senadin here yesterday, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas is optimistic this division could become a pineapple producer in the near future.
The 12.5-acre pineapple plantation, run by Eastern Union Agriculture Development Cooperative, is also considered as the largest in the northern Sarawak.
“The MD2 variety has a longer shelf life and is the ideal choice for export abroad,” Uggah told reporters after the visit.
He believes the fruit production will become a lucrative industry and thus, encourages farmers to go into fruit production.
Uggah, who is also the Modernisation of Agriculture, Native land and Regional Development Minister, revealed that the state government was in the process of identifying a suitable location to set up a fruit collection centre in Miri to help local farmers sell their fruits.
He added the government was also focusing on developing downstream activities in the sector.
“We want to help increase the production via downstream activities so that we can export our products abroad,” he explained.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin accompanied Uggah during his brief visit to the pineapple plantation yesterday.
