SIBU: Pepper farmers should consider planting the crop using organic farming methods.
Julau Member of Parliament Datuk Joseph Salang said organic pepper would be premium produce commanding even higher market prices.
“Organic pepper is produced without using any chemical fertiliser and pesticide which can leave traces of residue.
“The processing method from harvesting to drying is meticulously done to free the final product of any contaminants like sand, skin or dust,” he said when attending a meet-the-people session at Rumah Enchana Ugak in Entaih Entabai , Julau district on Friday.
Salang, who is also chairman of 1Malaysia Sarawak Advisory Council (1MSAC) said if farmers would undertake these extra efforts, they would help to gain more international recognition for Sarawak pepper.
He added the organic pepper was an alternative to the usual black or white pepper and catering to contemporary demand in the world market.
On the current low price of pepper in the market, he urged farmers not to be discouraged to the extent of abandoning their farms.
He urged them not to sell off all their stock at once when the price improved but wait for the price to climb even higher.
He said according to statistics, world demand for pepper is at 420,000 tonnes annually of which 360,000 tonnes had been produced so far.
Salang who is a planter himself said he had been informed by the Malaysian Pepper Board that it was currently doing more research to upgrade pepper production.
“It is studying even better processing methods besides trying out composite posts in the planting to replace the traditional belian wood which is in short supply now,” he said.
He added he had also told the board to stop people from branding pepper berries imported from Vietnam, Indonesia or Southern China which were then processed locally as Sarawak pepper.
“The Vietnamese, for instance, they produce pepper all year around and do not follow the weather circle for the desired quality.”
He added when the commodity is later exported (as Sarawak pepper) the poor quality could tarnish the state’s reputation.
Salang later held similar sessions at Rumah Sumping and Rumah Meru also in the area.