Ministry of Agriculture ready to help coffee entrepreneurs

PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) through the Department of Agriculture is ready to help those interested in becoming coffee entrepreneurs, “from start to finish”, starting with the preparation of the coffee. planting process, from the irrigation system to the processing of coffee.

Deputy Director General of the Department of Agriculture (Management and Regulation), Datuk Zahimi Hassan(Photo) Currently there were only around 2,000 coffee growers in Malaysia, especially in Kedah, Johor and Sabah. The majority of the cultivated coffee varieties are liberica and robusta.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the coffee growing area in Malaysia in 2021 is 2,220 hectares (ha) compared to 2,114 ha in 2019.

Coffee production in 2020 was 4,241 tonnes compared to 3,559 tonnes in 2019, with the main producers being Johor and Sabah, he said.

“The figure for coffee production is expected to increase each year taking into account the potential for coffee bean production depending on the maturity of the trees,” he told reporters after the celebration of World Coffee Day 2021 at the national level, here, today.

“The main problem in this industry is the manpower required to pick the ripe coffee beans, because not all of the beans on a coffee stalk will ripen at the same time. Therefore, it is necessary to pick the ripe beans from this stalk again at another time, ”he said.

Zahimi said the government approved an allocation of Ringgit 4.5 million under Malaysia’s 12th Plan (12MP) for the Coffee Plantation Industry Development Project which, among other things, aims to provide infrastructure. and post-harvest treatment facilities as well as pest control equipment.

MAFI Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, who officiated at the virtual celebration of World Coffee Day, said in his post that his ministry will place special emphasis on formulating new initiatives to encourage young entrepreneurs locals to venture into the coffee industry.

October 1 has been agreed by the International Coffee Organization, which has 49 member countries, as the date for the celebration of World Coffee Day, which is to promote and celebrate coffee as a daily drink, in addition to appreciating the producers of coffee and all the value of coffee. chain including processors, manufacturers to consumers.Bernama