Primary Industries Ministry to continue strengthening kenaf industry

KOTA BARU: The country's commodity sector generated RM140 billion in exports last year, making it the second largest income earner from exports after the electrical and electronics sector.
Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok Suh Sim (pix) said the commodity sector had a huge impact on the country's socio-economic development.
"The ministry will continue to focus on strengthening the development of the plantation and commodity sectors to empower smallholders and increase their income," she said in a speech at the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board's (NKTB) service excellence award ceremony here last night.
Teresa said the kenaf industry had huge potential, and that the ministry, through NKTB, would continue to undertake various efforts to spearhead and strengthen the development of the industry.
Meanwhile, NKTB director-general Samsuddin Noor said that this year, it was aiming for the cultivation of 2,500ha of kenaf plantations compared to last year's 2,273ha, which yields between 8 to 10 tonnes of produce per hectare.
He said NKTB would ensure the kenaf industry continues to grow and be export-oriented, targeting some 10,000ha of kenaf plantations nationwide by 2025. — Bernama