Govt to expand kenaf cultivation nationwide

The government will expand the cultivation of kenaf in the country, including west coast states, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali.

He said 1,977.36 hectares have been cultivated with the non-food fibre crop to date, and concentrated more in the east coast states involving 1,357 growers.

"Currently, the price for one tonne of kenaf is RM500 and each hectare yields up to 10 tonnes in a period of four months.

"On average, the farmers grow between one and three hectares of kenaf, deriving an income reaching RM5,000 to RM15,000 in that four months," he said in a post on his ministry's Twitter page, @mpic_my.

He was earlier reported to have said that for northern states such as Kedah and Perlis, the government intended to focus on production of kenaf seeds in view of the hotter and drier climate while the East Coast would be suitable as a seed distribution centre.

"The demand for kenaf is high and we hope the relatively good income from this crop will be a motivation for more farmers to get involved," he added.

Mohd Khairuddin also said that the government had channelled RM968,680 to the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board under the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package to assist target groups affected by the implementation of the Movement Control Order following the COVID-19 pandemic.

-- BERNAMA