Kota Samarahan:Malaysia is aiming to enhance its cocoa industry by expanding cultivation areas in Sarawak and producing higher-value chocolate products. This initiative is expected to decrease the country's reliance on imported dried cocoa beans over the next two to three years.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Shari Fuddin Sha'ari, the acting director-general of the Malaysian Cocoa Board, indicated that increasing cocoa cultivation in Sarawak, alongside Sabah, which is the country's principal cocoa-producing region, could boost local raw material supplies as newly planted trees begin to bear fruit. He emphasized the importance of strengthening downstream activities to enable farmers to process cocoa beans into higher-value chocolate products instead of solely selling dried beans.
Shari Fuddin highlighted the potential across the cocoa industry value chain, mentioning that dried cocoa beans could be transformed into chocolate products. He noted that processing technology could be made accessible to interested farmers and entrepreneurs. This was discussed at the 'A Malaysian Cocoa Affair 2026' event, which was launched by Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.
The Malaysian Cocoa Board is also advancing chocolate production using Sarawak cocoa beans through a single-origin strategy, processing dried beans from four locations at a cluster cooperative research center in Kota Samarahan. Shari Fuddin explained that cocoa beans from different regions possess unique flavor and aroma profiles, offering opportunities to create chocolates with distinct identities. Entrepreneurs can use these characteristics to develop various chocolate formulations, including those incorporating local ingredients like gula Melaka.
He also noted that this approach could attract more entrepreneurs, particularly young people, to the cocoa industry by focusing on innovation and product development. Interest in cocoa cultivation remains strong among farmers, with some applying for assistance to start or expand their plantations. The latest Malaysia Plan (MP) allocations also support efforts to expand cocoa-growing areas, presenting further growth opportunities for the industry.
Shari Fuddin expressed hope that increased local production would help bridge the supply gap for imported dried cocoa beans and create more economic opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs through the production of downstream products.