Photo Credit: Jermanpine FB
PONTIAN, Dec 27: A village in Pontian, which calls itself Kampung Parit Jerman (German in Malay) as Germans once operated farms there almost a century ago, is making a name for its pineapples and related products.
Today, Kampung Parit Jerman is famed not for its German settlers but for its MD2 “Jermanpine” and pineapple-based products from the Parit Jerman Grouped Pineapple Plantation Project (PTNB).
Remnants of the European settlers, including brickwork and stone staircases, still stand today, marking their presence in the village before World War II in the early 1940s.
Parit Jerman PTNB head Mohammad Anal Talha, 53, said the 30-hectare project, hailed as a ‘gem’ for the village, has hit its one-million-plant target, drawing domestic and international tourists, especially on weekends and school holidays.
“The project has attracted domestic tourists, including visitors from Sabah and mostly Sarawak, which is also known for pineapples, as well as international tourists from as far as Germany, South Korea, Japan, and several European and African countries,” he told Bernama recently.
Muhammad Anal said the PTNB project yields up to 25,000 pineapples a month and has sparked the production of pineapple-based products, including juice, jam, tarts, cakes, dodol and other treats.
He said Restoran Jermanpine completes the village’s agro-tourism hub, offering pineapple fried rice, pizza and waffles amid the sweeping green pineapple fields.
“Visitors can also enjoy the unique experience of exploring and photographing the pineapple fields, picking ripe pineapples themselves, and taking their harvest home.
“Another must-try experience for visitors is riding an ATV around the fields while taking in the stunning, one-of-a-kind scenery,” he said.
Muhammad Anal said the modern pineapple plantation is both a Pontian attraction and source of income for locals, including SME entrepreneurs, making Kampung Parit Jerman the district’s newest icon and a must-visit spot.
–BERNAMA