PETALING JAYA: According to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, pineapples have surpassed durians as the fruit with the highest production volume in Malaysia in 2022. However, durians still hold the top spot based on cumulative volume produced from 2018 to 2022. Last year, a total of 537,231 tonnes of pineapple were produced, while 455,458 tonnes of durian were harvested. Pineapples accounted for 29.4% of the total 1.827 million tonnes of fruits harvested in 2022.
This is the first time in the past five years that pineapples have topped the production volume list, surpassing durians. However, durians remain the most abundant fruit produced between 2018 and 2022, with a total production volume of 2.013 million tonnes, compared to 1.873 million tonnes of pineapples in the same period.
According to initial data from the Agriculture Department’s 2022 booklet of statistics on food crops, durians were reported as the number one fruit produced last year. However, updated data from the ministry now shows that pineapples have taken the top spot. Tomatoes continue to be the top vegetable produced in Malaysia, consistently holding the top position from 2018 to 2022.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Chan Foong Hin stated that the combined production of fruits and vegetables in Malaysia has shown an upward trend. This is a positive indicator of the country’s food availability and sufficiency. However, the growth or yield of different types of produce is not uniform, with some experiencing more substantial increases due to factors such as weather and consumer demand.
Malaysia’s pineapple industry has seen growing demand globally. Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali highlighted the high export potential of local pineapples. The board’s export target of RM1bil by 2025 was surpassed in 2021 when Malaysia’s pineapple export value, including pineapple-based products, reached RM1.106bil.
With pineapples flourishing in Malaysia, now is a good time to learn more about this unique fruit. Take the quiz below to test your knowledge:
Credit: The Star : News Feed
