08/10/2013 (Bernama) - The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities expects the Budget 2014 to continue supporting programmes on commodity development, especially, Research and Development (R&D).

Its Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the ministry was also optimistic of support for the replanting of rubber, oil palm and cocoa, as it was important to the country's economy.

He said through research programmes, a cocoa based-product, black chocolate, was identified as having ingredients good for health, adding, the ministry was also undertaking more research on oil palm and rubber.

On the replanting process, Douglas said for the oil palm industry, there was a need to ensure the hectarage was kept at five million, to maintain the production level.

"Currently, we produce 19 million metric tonnes of palm oil that contributes substantially to the economy. We hope the oil palm industry will remain a contributor to the country's gross domestic product in the future," he added.

He also said by 2020, the National Commodity Policy (2011-2020) could contribute RM242.2 billion to Malaysia's gross national income.