GOPENG: Produce grown and harvested under the pioneer Onion Cultivation Development Project in Kampung Ladang Bikam, Sungkai, will be known as "Bawang Perak" (Perak shallots), says the Mentri Besar.
Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the shallots, originally known as BAW-1, were being rebranded for market differentiation when they go on sale from Friday (May 10).
"Seeing that it is from our pioneer project in Perak, we will rebrand it as Bawang Perak.
"Bawang Perak has its own characteristics compared to the imported variety," he told a press conference after the state Agriculture Department Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at the Rural Transformation Centre here on Thursday (May 9).
"Having eaten it, I find it is crunchier, (tastes) fresher, has more red hue on the inside and has a stronger smell.
"We need to rebrand it, as other states like Johor or Selangor will also be (cultivating) it, though theirs may taste different," he added.
Perak became the first state in Malaysia to successfully harvest shallots from the 0.6ha site in Kampung Ladang Bikam.
Saarani said the Farmers' Organisation Authority (LPP) has identified several other locations for the project nationwide, including Perlis, Penang, Selangor and Johor.
"In Perak, an 8ha area has been identified in Batang Padang.
"This is in line with our food security policy and to lower our dependency on imports of shallots by 30% by 2030," he said.
"From our experience during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was insufficient supply, which forced prices to go up.
"This has caused grouses from caterers and food sellers," he said, adding that about 3.3 tonnes of shallots were harvested in the middle of April after the project started in January.
Saarani said that the shallots will be sold at Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) outlets nationwide from Friday.
"The shallots will be priced between RM10 and RM12 per kg.
"The price is about the same as the imported ones, as we want to see the response," he said.
"If we have more (supply) and no longer need to import, the price may be lower," he added.
