Pontian: Pineapple leaves, once regarded as worthless agricultural waste and discarded after harvest, have been transformed into 'green gold' capable of generating lucrative income by a creative entrepreneur. Munah Kadir, 55, a downstream entrepreneur from Kampung Rimba Terjun here, has successfully turned the waste into premium-quality pineapple fibre yarn with a market value reaching thousands of ringgit.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Pontian native has been consistently producing pineapple fibre yarn since 2007 before expanding into a range of downstream products made from the fibre, including embroidered keychains, decorative embroidery on handbags, and woven fabrics. "The value of pineapple fibre yarn is very high in the market, with prices reaching as much as RM900 per kilogramme (kg). Sales are largely supported by the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM), as well as educational institutions that require pineapple fibre for learning purposes," she explained. However, producing one kilogram of pineapple fibre yarn is neither easy nor quick, requiring 100kg of pineapple leaves, equivalent to about 4,000 leaves.
Describing the production process, Munah emphasized the importance of selecting leaves from mature pineapple plants whose fruits are ready for harvest to ensure the fibres obtained are strong and less prone to breaking. She usually selects leaves from MD2, Josapine, and Gandul pineapple varieties, picking those from the second layer of the plant. On average, she collects only about 800 leaves a day from one plant, obtaining between 14 and 17 leaves.
Munah sources her raw materials from pineapple growers in Air Baloi and Puteri Menangis, describing the daily routine in the plantation as far from easy, requiring great care and precision. She noted the challenges, including the thorny leaves causing injuries during harvesting and the risk of encountering venomous animals commonly found in pineapple plantations.
Once collected, Munah uses a specially crafted wooden tool to extract the fibres from the pineapple leaves. The extraction process must be completed within five days of harvesting to ensure the fibres remain of high quality. In the final production stage, the extracted fibres must be thoroughly dried before being stored or dyed according to customers' orders. "From a single leaf, we can usually extract less than one metre of fibre. So, glue and special techniques are needed to join the fibres together to produce yarn of the required length for sale," she explained, having produced pineapple fibre yarn measuring up to 20 metres in length.
One of the unique qualities of pineapple fibre yarn is its durability, lasting up to 30 years without any preservatives, provided it is stored properly and kept away from direct sunlight. Munah advised that products with stitching or embroidery made from pineapple fibre yarn cannot be washed like ordinary fabrics and must be dry-cleaned, just like songket, because the fibres are delicate and entirely handcrafted.
Despite growing demand, Munah, the recipient of the 2022 Johor Islamic Religious Council Asnaf Icon Award, has no plans to adopt automated technology or machinery, preferring to preserve the authenticity and quality of her products. She acknowledged the support received from government agencies such as LPNM, which have provided numerous opportunities to attend entrepreneurship and product development courses, while also assisting with promotion and market access. "This gives me the motivation to continue elevating pineapple fibre yarn as one of Pontian's icons, a district renowned as the nation's 'pineapple town', and hopefully establish it as one of the country's valuable heritage products in the future," she said.