JOHOR BARU: Johor is preparing to shore up its food security initiatives through an innovative smart indoor vertical farming project valued at RM38mil.
State agriculture, agro-based industry and rural committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said the initiative is a collaboration between Archisen, a Singapore-based company, and FarmByte Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Johor Corporation.
“The project, covering about 50,000sq ft in Iskandar Puteri, is in the final stages of construction and is expected to commence operations in April this year, with a formal launch scheduled a month later.
“This vertical farm is set to primarily produce premium vegetables, including salad greens, ice plant and mustard greens, with an estimated annual output of around 306,000kg,” he said when contacted.
Zahari said this initiative also aligns with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone agenda, further reinforcing Johor’s commitment to enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
He said the project, which commenced in August last year, is expected to employ 15 staff members initially, with plans for workforce expansion as the factory scales up its operations.
“The produce from the facility will cater to both domestic and export markets, with about 70% of the yield earmarked for Singapore.
“Beyond this initiative, discussions are under way for similar projects to be carried out in other districts, involving continued collaboration with the Singapore company.
“Additionally, the state government is exploring long-term research and development partnerships with Johor Biotech to drive agricultural innovation.”
Zahari said the state government would continue to welcome private sector participation to ensure the sustained growth of the agri-food industry, reinforcing Johor’s position as a key player in modern and sustainable farming practices.
He said discussions were held with the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board to explore the development of the pineapple industry in Johor.
“The discussions also included key industry players. Johor is well known as Malaysia’s largest pineapple producer, contributing more than 280,000 metric tonnes annually, with a market value exceeding RM680mil.
“The state accounts for 63.7% of the country’s total pineapple production,” he said, adding that Kluang alone has 5,047ha dedicated to pineapple plantations.
