IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science

PAPER • OPEN ACCESS You may also like

- Phytonematode on Pineapple (Ananas
The factors that influence operation risk on comosus L. Merrill) GP3 Clone With
Symptoms of Pineapple mealybug wilt-
pineapple production: A case study in Muar, Johor. associated virus (PMWaV)
Fatimatuzzahroh, F Kurniawati, TA
Damayanti et al.
To cite this article: N A M Ghazi et al 2023 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 1182 012027 - Morphology and fruit quality characters of
Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr) cv.
Queen on three sites planting: freshwater
peat, brackish peat and alluvial soil
Rosmaina, MA Almaktsur, R Elfianis et al.
View the article online for updates and enhancements. - The effects of different pineapple wastes
on soil chemical properties and growth and
yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)
N F H Kamaruddin, S Adam and N Q Boll
Kassim

This content was downloaded from IP address 112.209.12.118 on 02/11/2023 at 14:48

International Conference on Sustainability Agriculture and Biosystem (ICSAB 2022) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1182 (2023) 012027 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1182/1/012027

The factors that influence operation risk on pineapple

production: A case study in Muar, Johor.

N A M Ghazi1, F Khairuddin1 and W N W M Noor1

1
Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malacca Branch,
Jasin Campus, 77300 Merlimau, Melaka, Malaysia.

Corresponding author’s e-mail address: fatinkhairuddin@uitm.edu.my

Abstract. Pineapple is a tropical plant and a warm seasonal fruit that has been cultivated for
many years and has started to grow commercially. Pineapple was rapidly growing in southern
Johor as the first place in Malaysia. However, there are risks during operation that can affect the
quality and quantity of fruit. Uncertainties happen during operations, starting from the planting
process until harvesting. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the factors that influence
operation risk in pineapple production, determine the most crucial factors and identify the
relationship between these factors affecting pineapple production, which have been analysed
using descriptive analysis, multiple regression analysis and correlation analysis in SPSS version
21. A convenience sample of 132 pineapple smallholder farmers in Muar, Johor, was used to
answer the questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed through face-to-face interviews and
phone calls to all respondents. The results revealed that manpower issues were the most
important factor influencing operation risk on pineapple production, with a beta value of 0.347,
rather than the other three factors. All factors have a linear positive relationship with pineapple
production since the p-value is 0.000, which is less than 0.05. Manpower issues have a positive
relationship with pineapple production among other factors with the value of pearson correlation
is 0.651.

1. Introduction
The scientific name of pineapple is Ananas comosus, from the family Bromeliaceae. Pineapple is a
tropical plant and a warm-seasonal fruit that has been cultivated for many years and has been grown
commercially in large-area plantations and greenhouses since the 1820s. Due to [1], Malaysia started
planting pineapple on a large scale and producing more products, such as fresh fruits (70%) and canned
pineapple (95%), for export to other countries. Johor contributes 57% of pineapple production in
Malaysia, which has 8,934.53 ha and is followed by Sarawak and Sabah [2]. Even though Malaysia
produced RM 502 million, it was not enough to fulfil demand from Shanghai, China [3]. Operation risks
are events that cause unpredictable yields and outcomes in pineapple production. Unstable farm
management on managing risks that happen during operation causes pineapple production to decrease.
Farmers need to know how to handle risks that happen and occur in the field by handling them in
professional ways [4]. [5] stated, uncertainties can happen during operation which start from the
planting process until the harvesting process. Operation risk faced by the farmers on pineapple
production was pests and diseases attacks, manpower issues, low level of technology usage, and
environmental. The aims of this research are to determine the crucial factors that influence operation
risk and to identify the relationship between factors affecting operation risk and pineapple production.
There are several factors influences operation risk on pineapple production have been choose in this
study which are pest and disease, manpower issues, technology usage and environmental. Pests and

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution
of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd 1
International Conference on Sustainability Agriculture and Biosystem (ICSAB 2022) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1182 (2023) 012027 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1182/1/012027

diseases reduced the farmer's income and pineapple production. Based on the previous study [6], the
risks of the challenge that happened to smallholder farmers in Malaysia, especially in the pineapple
industry are pest and diseases attacks. According to [7], pests and diseases attacked the tissues and root
systems, causing death, wilting, and stunting of the plant. As a result, the plants are unable to produce
fresh pineapple fruits and pose a risk during operation. [8] stated the potential for pineapple heart rot
diseases cause yield loss was around 20% to 30%. Besides, manpower issues are one of the critical
problems in the plantation sector including in the pineapple industry which the field activities have a
high dependency on workers. In the pineapple industry, it required a lot of manpower from workers
despite having machines and technology that have been built, but some tasks are still done manually.
[8] stated in Malaysia, certain farms did the harvesting process manually by using rattan baskets that
exposed the workers' bodies to discomfort and pain.
Changes in technology have the potential to increase farm levels and productivity. Farmers' ability
to purchase and implement farm technology can ease the process from planting to harvesting. [9] As
stated again, by using automation technologies, farmers can determine soil properties before planting
suckers, which is useful for making operation decisions. Lack of experience to handle technologies and
management skills from farmers affect the operation process, which indicate low level of technology
usage in the field [10]. The environment has an impact on pineapple production and contributes to many
losses of fresh fruits, particularly during the harvesting process, which consists of several stages [11].
One of the environmental factors that has a negative impact on pineapple production losses is climate
change. All smallholder farmers are aware of climate change due to changes in rainfall and temperature
patterns that can affect pineapple production [12]. Lack of information and understanding of climate
conditions had an influence on the production and quality of crops [13].

2. Materials and methods

This research was conducted in Muar, Johor and the location were chosen by the Malaysian Pineapple
Industry Board (MPIB) at No. 314 Jalan Kamariah, Taman Sri Tanjung, 84000 Muar, Johor. Muar
district is divided into 12 mukims, which are Ayer Hitam, Bukit Kepong, Jalan Bakri, Jorak, Lenga,
Muar Town, Parit Bakar, Parit Jawa, Seri Menanti, Sungai Balang, Sungai Raya, and Sungai Terap.
Muar was the fourth place in pineapple production; the planted area was 998.9 ha, and the production
in Muar in 2020 was 26,792.6 Mt. Pineapple production is the main industry in Johor, which includes
Muar. Besides that, [14] from The Star said, in the early years of 2021, the rainy season affected
pineapple production in Johor by around 20%. Furthermore, according to the news from The Star [15]
Muar district was hit by the flood that involved smallholder farmers in Felcra Bukit Kepong and Felda
Maokil due to overflow water from the Muar River. This is a suitable place to research flood outbreaks
that happen in Muar, Johor in terms of production and operation processes.

2.1. Data collection method

A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data for this study. A questionnaire is the simplest and
fastest way to get all the information from many people, especially farmers. The respondent read the
questionnaire and answered all the questions, which took a few minutes. It consists of five sections: A,
B, C, D, E, and F. The survey method used in this study is to distribute an offline and online
questionnaire to the respondents, who are smallholder farmers. The population around 200 farmers using
the data and information provided by MPIB Johor and the sample size was 132 farmers.

2.2. Research design

Quantitative research was used in this study to collect all the data and information from the respondent,
which involved 132 smallholder farmers in Muar, Johor. By using quantitative methods, a researcher
can get accurate data from the farmers, ensure quick data collection, provide a wide scope, and eliminate
bias. The quantitative research method can be used by constructing a questionnaire for the smallholder
farmers to determine the crucial factors that influence pineapple production. This study uses a
convenience sampling design because the data get from the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB)
Johor and non-probability form sampling was used in the convenience sampling design because it is
typically used to determine the critical factors of disasters. The analysis used for this study was multiple

2
International Conference on Sustainability Agriculture and Biosystem (ICSAB 2022) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1182 (2023) 012027 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1182/1/012027

regression analysis to determine the crucial factors that influence pineapple production. Descriptive
analysis was used for the demographic profile or other question to know the frequency, mean score,
median and mode for the sections. Correlation analysis is used to identify the relationship between
factors affecting operation risk and pineapple production. By using correlation analysis, it can show the
relationship between independent variables and dependent variables. The means scores show which of
the factors were higher than other independent variables.

2.3. Conceptual framework

Conceptual framework shows the dependent variable and independent variable used in this study. The
dependent variable was pineapple production and independent variables were pests and diseases attacks,
manpower issues, low level of technology usage, and environment as stated in the Figure 1.

Figure 1. Dependent and independent variables

3. Result and discussion

Figure 2 shows farming experience among respondents from Muar, Johor. The highest frequency and
percentage were from 6 to 10 years of farming experience, which involved 41 (31.1%) farmers. It
revealed that the majority of smallholder farmers had only six to ten years of experience. It was followed
by 1–5 years of farming experience had 38 (28.8%) of the respondents. Farmers' farming experiences
were important to learn because they linked all of the operational risk factors. Only 5 respondents, or
3.8%, have more than 21 years of farming experience in pineapple production, while 16 have 16 to 20
years of farming experience. Lack of farming experience has an effect on pineapple production and farm
management [16].

Total respondents

Figure 2. Farming experience

3
International Conference on Sustainability Agriculture and Biosystem (ICSAB 2022) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1182 (2023) 012027 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1182/1/012027

3.1. The main pests’ attacks in pineapple production

Figure 3 shows the most common pests attacking pineapple fruit were fruit borers, which were chosen
by 99 respondents. Mealybug came in second, with 45.70% of 63 respondents. Mealybug known as
Koya Pink The pineapple is a major pest of pineapple crops as well as a significant pest of several other
agricultural crops. There are several pests that attack pineapple fruit as stated in the figure 3. Rodents
are the animals that eat pineapples and will destroy pineapple trees by digging the soil all the way to the
roots.

Total respondents

Main pests

Figure 3. Main pests’ attacks in pineapple

3.2. Multiple regression analysis

Table 1 shows the model summary for multiple linear regression analysis. The value of R shows the
value of R is 0.758 indicated as the strong variance between the multiple correlations of all factors for
this study and the pineapple production. The value of R was related to the independent variable, which
are pest and disease, manpower issues, low level of technology and environment. Based on table 1, the
R-square shows the value of R² is 0.575 indicates the moderate multiple linear regression analysis that
was still good for this study. This shows the value of R-square of 57.5% of the dependent variable which
is pineapple production was described by independent variable. While another 42.5% was explained by
other variables factors are not mentioned in this study.

Table 1. Multiple regression analysis

R R Square Adjusted R Std. Error of the
Square Estimate
1 0.758a 0.575 0.561 0.24406

a. Predictors: (Constant), pest and diseases attacks, manpower issues, low level of
technology usage, environmental
b. Dependent variable: pineapple production

The table 2 shows there are two independent variables are significant in this study since p-value is
0.000 less than 0.05. Based on table 2, the crucial factors that influence operation risk are manpower
issues with the highest beta (β) value. It indicates that each scale of manpower issues poses a higher risk
to pineapple production than other factors such as pest and disease attacks, low levels of technology and
the environment. The result aligned with [6] have stated that ageing workers and unskilled farm labour
are two examples of labour issues and lack of manpower reduces the production of pineapple. Manpower
issues are one of the most important factors that can affect pineapple production, as evidenced by a score

4
International Conference on Sustainability Agriculture and Biosystem (ICSAB 2022) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1182 (2023) 012027 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1182/1/012027

of 0.347 when compared to the other three factors. Lack of knowledge and skill from the workers
contributes to the high risk of the operation [17]. Furthermore, following the COVID-19 pandemic, it is
difficult to raise wages for local workers. Most of the farmers depend on foreign workers, but after the
pandemic, they do not work again. Some young people are not interested in working in the field and
would rather work in an office than in a dirty, dangerous and difficult field [6].

Table 2. Regression coefficients

Model Unstandardized Standardized t Sig.
Coefficients
Coefficients
B Std. Beta
Error
(Constant) 1.212 .252 4.809 .000
Pests and diseases .260 .056 .303 4.632 .000
Manpower issues .246 .056 .347 4.402 .000
Low level technology .080 .043 .129 1.858 .066
usage
Environmental .168 .065 .199 2.573 .011
a. Dependent variable: Pineapple production

3.3. Correlation analysis

Table 3 describe the result for correlations that consists of four independent variable that involved in
this study. The direction and intensity of the linear relationship between the independent variables and
the dependent variable can be calculated using correlation coefficients. Based on the table, all factors
have a linear positive relationship with pineapple production since p-value is 0.000 which is less than
0.05. Manpower issues have a medium and positive relationship with pineapple production among other
factors with the value of Pearson correlation is 0.651. Increasing of manpower issues in the company
would give significant impact to the pineapple production. It followed by environmental factors, pest
and disease attacks and low levels of technology usage.

Table 3. Correlation analysis

Pests Manpower Low level Environm Pineapple
and issues technology ental production
diseases usage
Pests and Pearson Correlation 1 .378** .246** .446** .555**
diseases Sig. (2-tailed) .000 .004 .000 .000
N 132 132 132 132 132
Manpower Pearson Correlation .378** 1 .530** .605** .651**
issues Sig. (2-tailed) .000 .000 .000 .000
N 132 132 132 132 132
Pearson Correlation .246** .530** 1 .443** .476**
Low level Sig. (2-tailed) .004 .000 .000 .000
technology usage
N 132 132 132 132 132
Pearson Correlation .446** .605** .443** 1 .601**
Environmental Sig. (2-tailed) .000 .000 .000 .000
N 132 132 132 132 132
Pearson Correlation .555** .651** .476** .601** 1
Pineapple
Sig. (2-tailed) .000 .000 .000 .000
production
N 132 132 132 132 132
** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed)

5
International Conference on Sustainability Agriculture and Biosystem (ICSAB 2022) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1182 (2023) 012027 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1182/1/012027

4. Conclusion
It can be concluded that there are only two factors affecting pineapple production and the most crucial
factor is manpower issues since the farmers does not much rely on technology usage in conducting field
activities. This is because they usually use the manual and traditional method of planting and
maintenance of pineapple. From the result of the correlation analysis, the null hypothesis was rejected
because all four variables were significant indicating that each factor had a positive relationship with
pineapple production. An increase in the issues of pests and diseases, manpower, technology and the
environment will increase the impact on pineapple production. Farmers must be concerned about these
factors in order to avoid massive losses in the future due to decreased pineapple production.

5. References
[1] Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB) (2016). Transforming the malaysian pineapple
industry. Retrieved online http://www.iipm.com.my/wp content/uploads/2016/05/tuan-haji-
sahdan- salim.pdf
[2] Department of Agriculture (DoA) (2021). Fruit crops statistic.
http://www.doa.gov.my/index/resources/aktiviti_sumber/sumber_awam/maklumat_pertanian
/perangkaan_tanaman/perangkaan_buah_2020.pdf
[3] Shah M F (2020). Govt to expand pineapple cultivation with booming global demand. Retrieved
from The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/06/12/govt-to-expand-
pineapple- cultivation-with-booming-global-demand
[4] Adam M K, Alessandro D P and Vincent H S (2020). A review types of risks in agriculture: what
we know and we need to know. Agricultural systems 178 (2020) 1027382
[5] Wira A B and Rabihah M S (2020). Agriculture risk management: a case study on rock melon
farm in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia. Food & Agribusiness Management (FABM) 1(2) (2020)
52-59.
[6] Anizah M A (2021). Industri nanas: peranan dan cabaran dalam penjanaan ekonomi Malaysia.
Journal of Economics and Sustainability, 3(2), 1-15.

[7] Satyagopal K, Sushil S N and Jeyakumar P (2014). AESA Based IPM Package: Pineapple
Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, India.
[8] Ocwa A, Bua B, Tusiime G. and Oculi J (2017). Pathogenicity of pineapple heart rot disease
causal organisms in Central Uganda. RUFORUM Working Document Series, ISSN 1607-
9345 No. 14 (2): 475 - 481.
[9] Nurul Shahida M, Emilia Z A, Karmegam K, Irniza R, Sharifah N S I and Noor H I (2019).
Development of smart fruit basket for pineapple harvesting. Malaysian Journal of Medicine
and Health Sciences, ISSN 2636-9346.
[10] Abu Bakar B, Baharom S N A, Abd Rani R et al (2021). A review of mechanization and
automation in malaysia’s pineapple production. Advance in Agricultural and Food Research
Journal. In-Press: a0000206.
[11] Adegbidi A B (2012). Impact of ICT use on access to markets f pineapple smallholder farmers in
benin. Journal of Research in International Business and Management (ISSN: 2251-0028)
Vol. 2(9) pp. 240-247, 8.
[12] Eduardo C G (2020). Environmental impacts associated to different stages spanning from
harvesting to industrialization of pineapple through life cycle assessment. Applied. Sciences.
2020, 10(19), 7007; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10197007.
[13] Philip A A, Esther A W, Kofi A, Frank B A and Samuel N A (2021). Determinants of choice of
climate change adaptation practices by smallholder pineapple farmers in the semi-deciduous
forest zone of Ghana. Environmental and Sustainability Indictors, Volume 12. December
2021, 100140.
[14] Vishali P O and Sudha R (2021). Impact of Internet of Things (IoT) in Smart Agriculture. IOS
Press. doi:10.3233/APC210176.
[15] The Star (2022). Floods: Muar the latest district to be hit by deluge in Johor.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/01/03/floods-muar-the-latest-district-to-be-

6
International Conference on Sustainability Agriculture and Biosystem (ICSAB 2022) IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1182 (2023) 012027 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1182/1/012027

hit-by-deluge-in-johor.
[16] Jaji K M (2018). Factors affecting pineapple market supply in Johor, Malaysia. International Food
Research Journal 25(1):366-375.
[17] Nahar A, Saili A R, Hamzah N M, Abdul Fatah, F, Yusop Z and Kamarul Zaman N B (2020).
Challenges in marketing channel selection by pineapple smallholder growers in Samarahan,
Sarawak. Journal of Food Research 4 (Suppl 5): 77-85.
https://doi.org/10.36877/mjae.a0000159.