Kenaf fast becoming an alternative to sugarcane cultivation in Perlis

KENAF, an industrial and pharmaceutical-driven plant is now making waves in Perlis - the country's smallest state and has become an alternative to the sugarcane cultivation segment.

Many smallholders are now growing and cultivating kenaf, as both the main or supplementary crop, particularly in Chuping, Padang Besar, which is by record the location with the highest humidity in Malaysia.

Besides Chuping, Padang Terap in Kedah also enjoys the distinction of becoming the hottest location in the country.

Similar to the sugarcane plant, kenaf grows well in hot climates but the former is now slowly being phased out with the main production hub relocated to Johor.

Perlis used to be a similar hub but no longer, so the introduction of kenaf here, is seen as a respite for the farming community in Chuping and Kaki Bukit, Padang Besar.

Kenaf grows well in the tropics but is super grown in high-temperature settings, so Chuping is ideal for it, said the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board (LKTN)  chairperson Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah.

While the sugarcane stalks have been phased out, kenaf is a timely alternative for the farmers here, and it is flexible until it can be grown alongside major commodities such as padi, rubber and palm oil, as a supplementary cash crop, said Rahim.

Given Perlis's choice potential for kenaf, Rahim has ordered LKTN to pay more attention to the state and the board now plans to cultivate kenaf in 300 hectares.

"It is not much compared to the previous sugarcane plantations but it is a start and we hope to grow the potential in time," said Rahim when visiting two villages - Kg Bilal Udoh and Kg Semadong, whose villagers are cultivating kenaf seeds.

He also visited the Kenaf Chuping Valley, a large tract of land near the Thai border, which cultivates kenaf until when its flowers bloom, it becomes a tourist attraction here.

The site is also hoped to be a processing plant, which can produce over 100 metric tonnes of kenaf seeds for the domestic market.

Rahim also envisioned kenaf being grown in Sarawak and perhaps Sabah too.

The industrial plant is also seen as an economic catalyst under the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).

During the meet-the-people session, Rahim recorded their grouses in wanting the diesel subsidies to be maintained as it helps the tractors plough the land.

The farmers also wanted the incentives to grow kenaf to remain after they learnt of plans to set up cluster estates to replace smallholder plantations to improve yield.

"Food security or in Kenaf's case, a cash industrial crop to replace tobacco, is essential in whatever decisions LKTN makes," stressed Rahim.

Rahim also witnessed the deployment of the first tea harvester machine made in Japan, which was used to harvest the seeds from the kenaf plants.

Kenaf can be grown and harvested thrice a year as it grows fast up to the neck level in a suitable climate.

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) is a short-term, fibrous plant that is grown in Malaysia as an industrial crop. 

It is a versatile plant that can adapt to a variety of climates and soils. 

Kenaf is used to produce a range of eco-friendly industrial products, including paper as well as biocomposites, textiles, animal feed, pellets and biofuel.

It was introduced on a large scale in 2010, as an alternative to tobacco by then Agriculture and Agro-Industry Based Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

Mustapa recently confided that the take-up rate for kenaf is low, so the authorities would need all the encouragement to heighten the interest among farmers, particularly those growing tobacco. - January 21, 2025.