As coconut crop is still being cultivated by smallholdings without using recommended varieties, a declination in yield and farm productivity is now observed in Malaysia, while in the meantime, demands for coconuts are rising in the market. Supply and Utilization Accounts (SUA) of Selected Agricultural Commodities, Malaysia has shown statistics that the self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) of coconuts was no more 100% ( 96.7%) while the import dependency ratio (IDR) raised up to 11%. In year 2014, Malaysia is no longer a coconut exporter. In year 2012, coconut production quantity significantly dropped to 606,530 tonnes (from top five among Malaysia’s agriculture commodities in year 1985 to top eight in year 2012). palm oil, soy bean oil) has caused coconut plantations to be less focused. The increased competition from other oils (eg. Moving on to the early 20th century, the oil crop industry started to flourish in Malaysia. Nevertheless, Malaysia was still a net exporter of coconut products, with a total export value of RM165.2 million (US$43 million). In 1995, a declination was recorded to roughly 250,000 hectares. The acreage then hit the highest point in the following year with an amount of 334,100 hectares. In year 1984, it is officially stated that the total agricultural land use of coconut plantations in Malaysia were 266,202 hectares. Sum of coconut production quantities in Malaysia from year 1961 to 2013. The reason behind was because almost 70% of the total production was consumed domestically. However, it did not bring the most income to Malaysia. The total area of coconut plantations by that time were, however, not stated in any official documents.ĭuring year 1961, the total amount of production of this agricultural commodity hits top one among all crops, with the value of 1,344,819 tonnes. It acted as a source of food to these households, while remaining ones would then be traded for other daily necessities. (Image source from My Far East, Malaysia)ĭating back to the mid-19th century, where a rough data of Malaysia’s coconut production amount was first recorded (on year 1961), coconut palms were being planted by private sectors and small landholders. No evidence shows what is the exact country of origin but Malaysia’s larger islands and continental coast are indicated to be the regions where coconut was domesticated.Ĭoconut harvesting by a native orang asli family during the 1960s. Let’s take a look back on the historical story of Malaysia’s coconut.Īround 9,000 years ago, coconut was suspected to be found by humans at some place on earth. It can be found almost along every single coast of Malaysia’s beach and sometimes even inland, which explains why coconut is widely used or consumed in Malaysians’ daily life.Īlthough coconut is everywhere, it doesn’t take its geological advantage to become the main economical crop that contributes to our national development, in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), export earnings, as well as livelihood income and employment. Oh wait, is coconut literally a nut? Or a fruit? Or, it’s just a huge seed of a tree?īotanically, it is a drupe (aka stone fruit), which is also the seed for reproduction of the coconut palm (scientifically termed as Cocos nucifera). If we were to picture it, an image of a slight oval greenish (or sometimes yellowish) nut will appear in seconds. Guess Malaysians all know how does a coconut look like.