PASIR SALAK: The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) has assured consumers that essential perishables including chicken sold at farmers’ markets nationwide will remain reasonably priced to avoid burdening consumers.
Fama chairman Datuk Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh said traders and entrepreneurs under the authority could sell their agricultural produce directly to farmers’ markets so that these items continue to be sold at cheaper prices.
He said in this way, they could exclude middlemen who made about 20% to 30% of the selling price.
"We are hoping to source directly from farms (for produce to be sold) at farmers’ markets under Fama," he told reporters after a working visit to the Kampung Gajah My Rakyat and Permanent Farmers’ Market here on Sunday (Jan 9).
On a related matter, Mohd Fasiah said the RM2.6mil Kampung Gajah farmers' market would become operational in March from 7am to 6pm daily.
It will have a total of 91 units, comprising 14 wet units, 70 dry units and seven for the food court.
He said the market was expected to generate RM11mil in economic activity in its first year of operations.
He added that 90% of the traders at the market would be from the Perak Tengah district following the relocation of all the participants from the Kampung Gajah public market.
There are two other farmers' markets in Perak, namely in Manjung and Lekir, that have been operational for several years now, he added.
The Kuala Kangsar farmers' market is expected to be fully operational by next year. – Bernama
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