Project Background
enriching and scaling up the potential of Harumanis mango entrepreneur cooperative
The Malaysian tropical climate is very favorable for various tropical fruits. The Harumanis mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a tropical fruit with tremendous commercial demand and exclusively planted in Perlis since 1984, located in the northwest of Peninsular Malaysia. It was registered under the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia as "Mangga Harumanis Perlis" on 2nd August 2011. Harumanis mango is one of the main signatures of Perlis with its delightful taste and a pleasant aroma. The fruit size varies, ranging from 350 to 600 grams with high Brix (sweetness) value from 16° to 22°.
In the recent years, the cultivation areas of Harumanis mango in Malaysia have increased with a growth rate of 9%, from 1,038 hectares in 2016 to 1,465 hectares in 2020. During the period, the growth rate production of Harumanis mango has also increased rapidly by 39%, from 780 tonnes in 2016 to 2,121 tonnes in 2020. In 2021, the total production of Harumanis mango reached a record of 3,680 tonnes and was valued at RM92 million with the involvement of 2,415 farmers. All these upward trends indicate an important potential Harumanis mango holds for the enhancement of agricultural sector in Malaysia.
Agriculture is a critical sector of Malaysia's economy and has been identified as the third engine of economic growth in Malaysia. For instance, the contribution of the agrofood sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had increased significantly with a growth rate of 6.8% from RM28.3 billion in 2011 to RM51.3 billion in 2020. The crop sub-sector persists to be the main contributor at RM24.1 billion compared to other sub-sectors under the agrofood sector. This highlights the importance of continual and sustainable development of agriculture sector in Malaysia as the livelihood of the country heavily relies on it.
To further support the agricultural development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) recently unveiled the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030 (NAP 2.0), which positions modernization and smart agriculture as the key game-changers in transforming the country's agrofood sector. Accelerating modern technology adoption, increasing farm productivity, creating an efficient value chain system, strengthening targeted agricultural output, and increasing value-added of agriculture produce is now among the top priorities of the Ministry.
Revitalizing the Potentials of KOHAMAS for Malaysia’s Economic Optimalization and Better Livelihood for the Farmers
Among the involvement of 2,415 farmers in reaching a new record of Malaysia’s Harumanis mango production in 2021, there are a total of 130 farmers with 100 hectares of cultivation area (296 tonnes porduction worth RM5.9 million) integrated in the Harumanis Perlis Entrepreneur Cooperative Berhad (Koperasi Usahawan Harumanis Perlis Bhd. or known as KOHAMAS). KOHAMAS was established in 2016, and the establishment of this cooperative aims to provide services related to agriculture in Malaysia, especially in assisting KOHAMAS farmers in Perlis that need support, guidance, advice, and marketing the fruits.
Harumanis mango offers a high-profit return, retailing at RM 25 to RM 30 per kilogram, with a high economic demand for domestic consumptions and export market potential. However, the Harumanis farmers - including KOHAMAS members - are facing huge obstacles of supply insufficiency, especially in supplying for supermarkets and hypermarkets. Harumanis mango is a seasonal fruit produced between April and June every year. Due to its limited harvest period, it is challenging to implement good agricultural practices from planting, flowering, and fruiting until the storage and packaging phase to prolong the life span of these fruits and ensure the consumers will receive these fruits in good quality. On top of that, the occurrence of Insidious Fruit Rot (ISR), increasing costs of farm inputs and fruit packaging, the threat of pests, diseases, and weather hostile to the production of healthy flowers also significantly hinder Harumanis farmers to provide stable supply.
Therefore, specific measures to address these issues are needed, namely by providing support mechanisms to increase the production and quality of fruits, create a more efficient post-harvest management, and increase greater access to the market. In line with MAFI’s NAP 2.0, training and technical support that enhance the technology literacy and capacity of the Harumanis farmers are urgently needed to equip them with the necessary skills and tools to be technology and export-ready. Additionally, strategic collaboration between Harumanis mango smallholders and top food-related companies is essential to provide assurance among the farmers and ultimately encourage the adoption of technology, increase access to sales destinations with a better price, and add value to their agricultural products that meet market needs.
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