Malaysia: Malaysia's kenaf industry is entering a key transition phase, with efforts underway to position it as a future green commodity, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said. She emphasized that kenaf should no longer be viewed as a secondary crop, but as a strategic contributor to the sustainability of the national commodities sector.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, for 2025, the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board (LKTN) has processed an estimated 70 tonnes of kenaf seeds. This announcement was made in conjunction with Noraini's working visit to Perlis and a breaking-of-fast event at Dewan Bukit Keteri, Beseri. The minister assured that the ministry will continue to support industry modernization initiatives to ensure competitive returns for kenaf growers.
During the event, Noraini highlighted that kenaf cultivation has produced a range of entrepreneurs, including mushroom growers using kenaf and padi waste, producers of cat food diet products under the Ecovet brand, and the development of kenaf leaf tea marketed as Biokenaf for health and weight management. These products were developed in collaboration with local universities, particularly Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP).
She noted that Biokenaf, formulated by UMK researcher Dr. Maryana Mohamad Nor, has also led to the development of a health supplement. Noraini mentioned that Perlis' expertise in kenaf cultivation is attracting international interest, including potential collaboration with Kenya, which has a semi-arid climate.
Noraini reported that kenaf planting has expanded rapidly in Padang Besar and Chuping, replacing areas previously dominated by sugarcane and tobacco. She expressed confidence that the crop could have a significant impact on the national economy. She also met several kenaf growers, many of them women, who have shown strong commitment to the crop with support from LKTN and state agencies.
One of the key initiatives is the Kenaf Integrated Park (KIP) in Chuping, a pilot project focusing on processing kenaf pulp for biodegradable products. Noraini highlighted that the industry supports Malaysia MADANI aspirations, particularly as an alternative source of income for the country. The government is targeting 2,500 hectares of kenaf cultivation by 2025/2026 to strengthen the agro-commodity sector and raise farmers' incomes.
Noraini expressed confidence that through LKTN's initiatives, kenaf will be widely used in animal feed pellet production, reducing reliance on imported raw materials, as demonstrated by the locally developed Ecovet products. Ongoing research has also integrated kenaf fibre into the automotive, construction, and textile industries, as well as mutation breeding research using nuclear technology. New varieties, MK1 and MK2, have been developed to enhance the crop's global competitiveness.
At the event, Noraini presented seed revenue payments for the 2025/2026 season to Perlis growers. Three farmers recorded strong yields: Wahab Hamid (1,980kg, RM79,200), Muhammad Izhan Abu Bakar (1,860kg, RM74,400), and Mohd Shahril Mansor (834kg, RM33,360). Earlier, she visited a Seed Processing Centre in Perlis capable of processing and conducting comprehensive seed quality tests, and inspected kenaf fields at Batu 17, Jalan Kaki Bukit, to observe crop progress.