Kuala lumpur: The Felda Settlers Development Programme (PPP) for MD2 pineapple cultivation has achieved a major milestone, with produce from its farms penetrating international markets, directly benefiting 3,730 settlers across nine Felda schemes.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican stated that this achievement highlights Felda's evolving role beyond being the country's largest oil palm agency, marking its emergence as a leader in other agricultural sectors. This was emphasized during a flag-off ceremony for the export of produce under Felda's PPP at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).
His speech, delivered by MATRADE senior board member Datuk Hazimah Zainuddin, was attended by notable figures such as Felda chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Felda director-general Datuk Dr Suzana Idayu Wati Osman, and Aqina Fruits executive director Wesley Tan Seah Ging.
The PPP, initiated in collaboration with Agrobank in 2021, involves cultivating MD2 pineapples on 222 hectares in various Felda regions. The initiative has seen 10 million pineapples planted, with the harvested produce sold in major supermarkets and exported to the Middle East, Japan, and China.
In three years, the trade value from MD2 pineapples and suckers reached RM4.9 million, with projections indicating sales could reach RM18.5 million within the next five years. Aqina Fruits, as the operator of Felda's PPP project, expressed its honor in contributing expertise and experience, involving nine Felda cooperatives across five PPP farms.
Tan highlighted that since the project's inception in 2021, there has been a transformation in Felda's agricultural landscape, previously dominated by rubber and oil palm. Presently, 500 hectares across five farms are dedicated to pineapple cultivation, with over 10 million pineapples planted.
According to Tan, the PPP initiative prioritizes the Felda community, ensuring they are integrated into the modern wave of economic transformation. This platform has not only empowered settlers socioeconomically but also provided education, technical skills, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
As of July 2025, 40 individuals, including children and grandchildren of settlers, have been employed at Aqina Fruits and the participating PPP farms. To date, several programs have been implemented, encompassing skills training and modern agricultural technologies, introducing settlers to smart farming practices based on Internet of Things technology and automation. These include the "night farming" concept and the use of advanced machinery like boom sprayers and drones.