BELADIN – The pineapple industry in Beting Maro is set to be the catalyst for a new rural economy development program after a product processing innovation course was introduced as part of efforts to equip residents with entrepreneurial capacity.
“The course served as a platform for the participants to venture into the potential of pineapple products as an alternative income,” said Dato Razaili Gapor, who is also Beting Maro State Assemblyman (ADUN). This venture would help diversify livelihoods in the constituency while also boosting the agricultural sector, he noted.
The government has allocated RM15 million to support the development of the pineapple industry in Beting Maro. Looking ahead, a mini processing factory is planned to further expand the industry and add value to local produce.
“Such facilities will enable the production of by-products such as pineapple juice, jam and others, which can enhance the value-added potential of agricultural activities here,” Razaili said.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Pineapple-Based Product Processing Innovation Course at Dewan Al Amin Beladin, Pusa, Razaili said that if the industry is developed consistently, it could significantly improve household incomes and raise living standards.
He expressed confidence that pineapple-based products would enjoy strong demand, especially during festive seasons, and highlighted Beting Maro’s potential as a strategic hub for agricultural food production.
Razaili also emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship in sustaining the sector, encouraging participants to apply the skills gained during the course to start small businesses and contribute to the local economy.
Meanwhile, Sarawak LPNM Director Mohd Nazaiful Azdi Rahman reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting participants in producing competitive and high-quality pineapple products.
He added that the government has allocated RM80 million to expand pineapple cultivation across Sarawak, creating broader economic opportunities for rural communities.
The programme is part of wider efforts to empower rural residents through agricultural innovation, ensuring that communities benefit not only from cultivation but also from value-added processing.
With continued government support and industry guidance, the pineapple sector in Beting Maro is expected to play a key role in strengthening Sarawak’s rural economy.
