SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan government has allocated RM100,000 to the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to use as capital to buy greens and fruits from growers in the state affected by the movement control order (MCO).
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said through the initiative, Fama would be able to help market such produce as many retail outlets had been forced to shut down due to the MCO.
"We have decided to allocate the money which Fama can use as capital because we do not want the food supply chain to be disrupted.
"Since these growers are not able to market the produce themselves due to the MCO, we have roped in Fama to help out," he said in a statement Thursday (April 9).
Aminuddin said the move would help some 300 main producers of greens and fruits in the state.
"We want at least half the allocation to be used to help these growers as well as entrepreneurs.
"Fama will also be able to get the produce at reasonable rates as they will be buying directly from the growers," he said.
He said Fama would also buy the “tebu telur" green with the bulk of it currently being grown by 37 farmers in a 40ha area in Jelebu.
"Since the farmers will not be able to market the tebu telur during Ramadan, Fama can buy the produce from them directly and then sell it," he said.
Aminuddin said Fama would also help market products from entrepreneurs in the small and medium industries that have been unable to do so due to the MCO.
"If the expiry dates of the products is in June, then Fama will help market them," he said, adding that there were some 100 such entrepreneurs in the state.
He said the greens and fruits sold at Fama-endorsed outlets would also be cheaper by between 5% and 30% than in the market.
Fama, he said, had three fresh marts and a network of retail outlets where the produce would be made available.
"We hope this initiative will help reduce the burden of the growers and, at the same time help, buyers get cheaper greens and fruits," he added.
Source : https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/04/09/negri-allocates-rm100k-to-fama-to-buy-greens-from-farmers#cxrecs_s