Options for Greenhouse Horticulture in Malaysia : trip report March 2008

Protected greenhouse horticulture is a growing activity in Malaysia that has been prioritized by the Malaysian government as an area of cooperation with The Netherlands. Also, the private sector sees business opportunities and initiates modernization. Traditional horticultural production takes place in the highlands, where land is scarce and production competes with tropical rainforest. However, there are opportunities in the lowlands. For example, in Terengganu, greenhouses that are modern to Malaysian standards have been successfully realized in 2007. Most relevant crops are currently cucumber, chillies, sweet pepper and tomato. Consumer’s demand or export opportunities may lead to the introduction of other crops. It is desired that these first developments are taken further, also for the highland regions where the majority of horticultural production is located.