CJMY
Nestlé Malaysia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Kelantan Development Authority (KESEDAR) to expand its NESCAFÉ Grown Respectfully program to Gua Musang, Kelantan, as part of the company’s commitment to revive local coffee farming. KESEDAR’s participation marks the third state in Malaysia for adopting the program, following successful initiatives in Perak and Kedah.
The sustainable coffee farming initiative seeks to improve local farming communities’ livelihoods by adopting regenerative agriculture practices.
The partnership will see KESEDAR demarcate 60 hectares in Gua Musang for coffee planting under the NESCAFÉ Grown Respectfully program. Nestlé will provide 200 seedlings for the demo farm and 800 seedlings as mother plants for the nursery, sourced from the NESCAFÉ Grown Respectfully program in Kedah.
This initiative will enable farmers to obtain good yields while protecting ecosystems and soil nutrients for high-quality beans and the long-term continuity of farming activities.
CEO of Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad Juan Aranols said Nestlé Malaysia has engaged with local farmers since 1985 through our Farmer Connect programs.
“As we join hands now with KESEDAR, we look forward to continuing reviving the local coffee farming sector and putting Malaysia on the global coffee map,” he added.
Nestlé Malaysia aims to grow the harvest of coffee beans to some 1,000 tonnes by the end of the decade, creating a sustained supply of green coffee beans that meet the company’s stringent quality requirements.
NESCAFÉ Grown Respectfully program will support KESEDAR farmers throughout the coffee farming process by providing technical support, training, and knowledge-sharing. Nestlé Malaysia aims to establish a solid foundation for coffee farming in Kelantan, providing planting materials produced through NESCAFÉ Grown Respectfully to smallholder farmers.
This foundation will uplift local farming communities by providing trade diversification opportunities, strengthening their resilience, and contributing to Malaysia’s food security while reducing the company’s carbon footprint.
General Manager of KESEDAR, Dr Shahrir bin Mohammad Zakey said they are excited to work alongside Nestlé Malaysia to bring NESCAFÉ Grown Respectfully to Kelantan for the very first time.
“The establishment of coffee farming in Gua Musang will contribute positively to the economic and social development of Southern Kelantan,” said Sharir.
Since its launch in 2019, the program has engaged more than 200 local farmers, raised more than 270,000 coffee seedlings for planting across approximately 150 acres of land, and harvested 145 tonnes of local green coffee beans used to produce NESCAFÉ Classic Kopi Kedah.
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