BANTING: The government is considering converting 420,000ha of abandoned rubber estates into bamboo plantations, which offer higher commercial value in the global market.
Plantation and commodities minister Johari Ghani said, if implemented, it could enhance the country’s participation in the commodity market and add value to the economy and national income.
He added that the bamboo industry was valued at about US$70.6 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to around US$100 billion by 2028.
“We have about 1.1 million hectares of rubber plantations, with 420,000ha untapped or uncultivated due to various factors. Many of the operators are seniors and their children are no longer interested in managing the plantation.
“There are two ways we could utilise the land. One is to invite the private sector to help us consolidate and resume rubber tapping.
"Alternatively, if we decide against planting rubber, we could offer the land to furniture industry players to cultivate bamboo, which is easier to maintain,"he told the media after launching the National Bamboo Seminar and the 2024 World Bamboo Day Malaysia here today.
Johari also highlighted that foreign investors have expressed interest in entering Malaysia’s bamboo industry, though several constraints must be addressed before the country can become a hub for this sector.
"The main challenge to large-scale bamboo commercialisation is limited land. Any commercial initiative requires no less than 2,000ha, but currently, the industry operates on a small scale, with over 90% of bamboo entrepreneurs involved in small-scale handicraft production," he said.
The minister also said he had instructed the Malaysian Timber Industry Board to conduct research and development of bamboo products that can be developed from local varieties.
He also stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation with state governments to expand the industry.
