More areas to be allocated for cocoa plantations in Sarawak

KUCHING: The Malaysian Cocoa Board is opening up more areas for cocoa cultivation by smallholders in Sarawak, which saw its total planted area more than doubled in the past five years.

Sarawak regional officer, Nurjayadi Abdullah said the total cocoa plantation in Sarawak increased to more than 7,100ha last year, up from 2,910ha in 2005.

He said out of 2,100ha approved for planting last year, 1,220ha were developed in 2010, with the remaining expected to be cultivated by December this year. During the 2008-2009 period, 2,973ha were planted with cocoa.

“There are now more than 7,100 cocoa farmers, and more are expected to venture into cocoa cultivation in view of the good prices of cocoa beans and the assistance from the government,” he told Starbiz recently. Samarahan Division topped the list with 1,898ha, followed by Sri Aman (1,596ha), Sarikei (1,494ha), Kapit (1,433ha), Betong (377ha), Kuching (310ha) and Bintulu (74ha).

Nurjayadi said new areas which were opened up for major cocoa development in the past three years were Lubok Antu in Sri Aman Division and Pakan in Sarikei Division.

“Our target is to develop 1,000ha of new cocoa farms a year under the 10th Malaysia Plan,” he added.

At the peak in 1990, Sarawak had more than 73,000ha of cocoa plantations, including estates owned by Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority and other companies. Cocoa beans fetched RM13,000 per tonne in the late 1970s but plunged to RM1,740 in 1992.

Many smallholders abandoned or chopped down their cocoa trees and switched to other cash crops, like pepper and oil palm, after the industry collapsed.

The prices, according to the board’s statistics, recovered significantly 10 years later to an average of RM4,400 per tonne in 2002 but dropped to an average of RM3,580 in 2005. From there, the prices started to firm up and have since remained strong. Nurjayadi said the good prices were expected to be sustained due to a shortfall in the supply of cocoa beans to grinding factories in the country.

He said the board was buying dry cocoa beans from farmers at RM7,900 per tonne, which was higher than the market price of RM6,230 per tonne in Sarawak.

The cocoa farmer marketing support service scheme ensured farmers received remunerative price for quality cocoa beans.