Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) is a tropical and economic fruit with encouraging market potential in the global market. It is the first crop grown as a commodity crop in Malaysia and raised the country’s position to a very significant level in the world between the late 60 s and early 70 s. However, Malaysian pineapple’s contribution to the global market in the recent time has been experiencing downward trend, resulting to a set-back in its competitiveness. This study aimed to determine factors influencing pineapple market supply in Johor, Malaysia, with objectives of identifying factors affecting pineapple market supply and quantity supplied of pineapple to the market in the study area. Data were collected using a well-structured close ended questionnaire via face-to- face from 170 randomly selected pineapple farmers. The obtained data were analysed using descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and regression analysis. Six factors identi¬fied by exploratory factor analysis as the factors affecting pineapple supply are credit access, pineapple varieties, distance to the market, cost of input, price of pineapples and extension services. The result of regression analysis revealed that, quantity of pineapple supplied to the market was found affected by farming experience, farm size, credit access, pineapple varieties, cost of inputs, price of pineapples, and extension services at 5%, 1%, 1%, 5%, 1%, 5% and 5% significant level respectively. The study recommends the need for designing appropriate intervention mechanisms focusing on the aforementioned factors to improve industry’s performance in the global market and uplift the status of smallholder pineapple farmers.
Soluble solid content (SSC) is one of the important traits that indicate the ripeness of banana fruits.
Determination of SSC for banana often requires destructive laboratory analysis on the fruit. An impedance measurement technique was investigated as a non-destructive approach for SSC determination of bananas. A pair of electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode connected to an impedance analyser board was used to measure the impedance value of bananas over the frequency of 19.5 to 20.5 KHz. The SSC measurement was conducted using a pocket refractometer and data was analysed to correlate SSC with impedance values. It was found that the mean of impedance, Z decreased from 10.01 to 99.93 KΩ at the frequency of 20 KHz, while the mean value of SSC increased from 0.58 to 4.93 % Brix from day 1 to day 8. The best correlation between impedance and SSC was found at 20 KHz, with the coefficient of determination, R2 of 0.87. This result indicates the potential of impedance measurement in predicting SSC of banana fruits.
Not many attempts have been made in previous studies to understand consumers’ socio-demographic characteristics and their awareness towards organic rice. Knowledge towards organic rice among consumers is fundamental to induce demand and market for organic rice. This study seeks to understand consumers’ awareness towards organic rice in Malaysia. The survey is exploratory in nature and was conducted at major supermarkets in Klang Valley. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis and chi-square analysis using cross-classification techniques, and correlation to determine their relationship, strength and direction of their relationship. The findings showed majority of the respondents (85.6%) have some level of awareness towards organic rice, while only 64.7% planned to consume organic rice in the future. This indicates that awareness of consumers towards organic rice does not necessarily translate to their planning to consume organic rice. Thus, achieving awareness and understanding the linkage between awareness and consumption is fundamental to impacting demand and market for organic rice. The study also showed that the younger respondents have more concern towards organic rice. These findings if well responded to, would definitely have positive implications for the Malaysian organic rice industry.
Using Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) framework, this study examines Stimulus–
Response relationships of fresh vegetable consumers’ behavior in Klang Valley, Malaysia. In
particular, the study focused on how loyalty drivers affect retail formats choice by the fresh
vegetable (FV) consumers. The Stimuli that pertain to loyalty drivers include promotional
activities, perceived price and social interaction and the Response is the retail format choice.
Three hypotheses were developed and tested with the data collected from a survey using
simple random sampling technique. Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used in analyzing
the data. Results of the study revealed that Stimuli (loyalty drivers) influence Response (retail
format choice) for the different FV markets in Malaysia. Based on the finding of the research,
Malaysian retailers have different marketing strategies to be considered with regards to loyalty
drivers.