RAINY SEASON AFFECT PINEAPPLE YIELD

PINEAPPLE (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) is a tropical and economic fruit with encouraging market potential in the global market. It is the first crop grown as a commodity crop in Malaysia and raised the country's position to a very significant level in the world between the late 60's and early 70's. However, Malaysian pineapple's contribution to the global market in the recent time has been experiencing downward trend, resulting to a set-back in its competitiveness. This study aimed to determine factors influencing pineapple market supply in Johor, Malaysia, with objectives of identifying factors affecting pineapple market supply and quantity supplied of pineapple to the market in the study area. Data were collected using a well-structured close ended questionnaire via face-to- face from 170 randomly selected pineapple farmers. The obtained data were analysed using descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and regression analysis. Six factors identified by exploratory factor analysis as the factors affecting pineapple supply are credit access, pineapple varieties, distance to the market, cost of input, price of pineapples and extension services. The result of regression analysis revealed that, quantity of pineapple supplied to the market was found affected by farming experience, farm size, credit access, pineapple varieties, cost of inputs, price of pineapples, and extension services at 5%, 1%, 1%, 5%, 1%, 5% and 5% significant level respectively. The study able to recommends the need for designing appropriate intervention mechanisms focusing on the aforementioned factors to improve industry's performance in the global market and uplift the status of smallholder pineapple farmers. This blog "Anim Agriculture Technology" share an info about few factors affecting pineapple production in Malaysia especially inn Johor State recently as reported by local media.

Local media The Star Newspaper reported that the rainy weather last month has affected the yield of pineapples, causing production in Johor to drop by at least 20% this year of Ox (2021). Federation of Malaysian Vegetable Farmers Association president Mr Lim Ser Kwee said excess rainfall also caused the pineapples’ appearance to miss the mark. As a result he told that the harvest cannot be sold in the market. However with the reduction in output this year has not led to any price increase because of the overall market slowdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The price of pineapple is still similar to last year at about RM8 to RM10 each as he told reporter in Johor Bahru. Lim, who is also a pineapple farmer in Simpang Renggam are one of the largest pineapple producers in the country and said besides supplying the local market, the fruits were also sent to Singapore, where there were no big changes in the orders compared to last year. The workers harvesting pineapples at a farm in Simpang Renggam in which is one of the largest producers of the fruit in the country. Another pineapple farmer in Simpang Renggam, Tan Eng Tong, said the prolonged rainy weather caused his fruit production to drop by about 50% compared to last year. His farm used to produce more grade A pineapples, which weigh about 3kg each, but this year, my harvest consisted mostly of smaller-sized grade B and C fruits. Tan said he also faced a 30% drop in local orders because of the movement control order, while the demand from across the border was still strong. Previously his customers mostly said they wanted to wait for the government’s decision on the MCO before placing orders for the fruits. Although the MCO was in place until Feb 18 2021, the Chinese community would still celebrate the Year of the Ox, albeit on a smaller scale this year, he added. Pineapples are considered a must-have for Chinese New Year as the fruit signified prosperity. Many in the community also used the fruits, especially those with larger crowns, as prayer offerings during the festive celebration.

Thanks.

By,

M Anem,

Johor Bahru,

Malaysia.

(Febuary 2021).