REMBAU - The supply of vegetables across the country is currently stable and sold at a cheaper price compared to before.
Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) acting director-general Abdul Rashid Bahri said they will ensure that the supply is sufficient ahead of the Aidilfitri celebration.
"The price is cheaper compared to before, for example the price of a cucumber now is around RM1.50 compared to RM2 before.
"We will also increase the supply of vegetables at Fama outlets such as at the farmer's market, agro bazaar, operation centres so that the supply will remain stable in the market," he said during the 'Jelajah Semarak Ramadan' programme at Negeri Sembilan level held at Ladang Kampung Relong, here, today.
Also present were Fama contract marketing division senior director Abdul Rahman Mahmood and Fama Negeri Sembilan director Shahlan Kusaseh.
In the meantime, Rashid said that they had no longer received complaints about the lack of coconut supply during festive seasons since last year.
"This is after coconuts are no longer subject to Approved Permit (AP) or import quota approval.
"Usually the amount of coconut supply would double during festive seasons. So, for this festive season as many as two million coconuts will be imported from Indonesia to meet the consumers' needs," he said.
At the ceremony, the signing of a Forward Agreement Ceremony between 'Rakan Pemasar Kontrak Pemasaran (RPKP)' and the contract farm participants, involving an estimated purchase value of six metric tons at RM21,000 also took place.
Additionally, Fama also presented a replica cheque amounting to RM41,000 to two Fama entrepreneurs from Rembau district, Kamarudin Norzan and Nurul Amirah Atiqqah Isnin for the Negeri Sembilan Fama Development Project 2023 namely the Kedai Rakyat Agrobazaar (AKR) Project and the Farm Collection Centres (CC) Project.
Meanwhile, commenting on the Contract Farming Programme, Rashid said Fama targetting as many as 1,000 participants nationwide this year to further increase the food supply for this country.
"This programme is believed to be able to help increase supply for vegetables and fruits, especially during the festive seasons.
"So far, there are more than 5,000 participants across the country for this programme. Negeri Sembilan alone has 233 contract farm entrepreneurs and throughout the previous year, more than 350 metric tons of revenue was recorded with a value of more than RM1 million," he said.
Rashid said the Contract Farming programme was part of the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) efforts to increase the supply of vegetables and fruits over time.