Pulau dayang bunting: Beyond the charming village atmosphere and natural beauty that have long attracted visitors to Pulau Dayang Bunting and nearby Pulau Tuba, pineapple cultivation is emerging as a potential new tourism draw, offering visitors a unique agrotourism experience.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, apart from providing an additional source of income for growers, the pineapple farms could be developed into experience-based tourism products featuring farm tours, insights into cultivation methods, fruit-picking activities, and opportunities to sample and purchase fresh produce directly from growers.

Pineapple grower Khairullnizam Rosli, 42, said he started cultivating pineapples in 2025 as a supplementary source of income on a 0.40-hectare plot at Selat Bagan Nyior, Pulau Dayang Bunting, planting 15,000 Morris variety pineapple plants. He said that a year later, he and seven other growers had expanded the cultivation area to 3.23 hectares, with about 120,000 plants currently grown there.

'Tourists visiting Pulau Tuba and Pulau Dayang Bunting can visit the pineapple farms, picking the fruit themselves, and enjoying it there or taking it home. They can also sample pineapple-based delicacies, such as Pau Bakar Nenas (grilled pineapple-filled steamed buns), made using locally grown pineapples,' he said recently.

Khairullnizam said that although pineapple cultivation was still in its early stages, demand for his produce had been encouraging, with most of the harvest supplied to fruit vendors across Langkawi. On production, he explained that yields depended on plant age and the hormonal flowering induction process used to stimulate flowering, enabling the fruit to be harvested simultaneously after about 120 days.

'The yield depends on the number of plants treated with the hormone. Typically, the process is carried out according to a specific batch size, such as 15,000 plants, before the treatment is applied to the next batch ahead of harvesting,' he said.

The retired Army personnel said he currently cultivated two varieties, Morris and MD2 (Millie Dillard), which could generate an annual income of up to RM45,000. He said the influx of tourists and strong local demand also presented opportunities for growers to market their produce directly to visitors.

Khairullnizam said the potential could be further enhanced by integrating pineapple farms with existing tourism offerings, including homestays, village activities, and beach visits, to create more comprehensive tourism packages. 'Tourists can stay in homestays, experience village life, visit the beach and tour the pineapple farms all in one trip. This offers a unique experience compared with simply coming to enjoy the seaside scenery,' he said.

In this regard, Khairullnizam hoped pineapple cultivation could become a new defining feature of Pulau Dayang Bunting and Pulau Tuba, particularly by enriching the islands' agrotourism offerings and providing visitors with a wider range of experiences.