Hoping to increase pineapple exports from 400,000 to 700,000 tons a year by 2025, the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board plans to introduce the night farming method for pineapple planting from next year.
Director-general Mohd Khairuzamri M. Salleh said the night farming method had proven to increase pineapple production based on preliminary studies conducted on several smallholdings. He said normally pineapple fruits can be harvested after 14 months, but through the night farming method, pineapples can be harvested within 11 months.
"We are trying to realise this innovation because it represents something new in the industry, and we also believe that night farming is being implemented for the first time in the world. The pineapple is a type of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism plant, where the photosynthesis process takes place at night. So when pineapples are planted and cared for with the night farming method, they are more effective because we give them "food" while they are working compared to fertilising them during the day when they are 'sleeping' or 'resting'," he said.
Mohd Khairuzamri said the Board plans to extend night farming for the MD2 variety of pineapples as these are much sought after for export, especially to the Middle East and Europe.
Source: thestar.com.my
