by Nuradzimmah Daim, New Straights Time
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry hopes to market the local MD2 pineapple variety to more countries.
Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in wrapping up the debate on the motion of thanks on the Royal Address by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in Dewan Rakyat said the pineapple variety had managed to penetrate international market with the latest in South Korea.
“We hope that our MD2 will be able to be marketed to Japan and China soon as there are requests from them. This will give a boost to the local pineapple farmers.
“If this can be secured, we are confident that we will be able to assist our farmers in marketing their produce and at the same help increase their income.”
On marketing efforts in domestic level, he said among the efforts to assist farmers was the setting up of more than 200 collection centre for farm produce nationwide.
“This will help farmers who do not wish to sell their produce directly to consumers. We hope that most of parliamentary constitutions will have the collection centres to help farmers to market the produce without having to physically present at markets, for instance.”
Apart from that, he said Agro-bazaar outlets would also be upgraded to allow associations who were running them to also sell fresh produce there apart from the daily necessities.
“We have also issued a directive to all traders at the 580 pasar tani (farmers market) nationwide to only obtain supplies for the produce directly from farmers by June 1 as currently there are some who are still getting supplies from wholesalers,” he said, adding that the ministry aimed to have 1,000 pasar tani nationwide.
Source: New Straights Times