FAMA conducts programme to stablise food prices

KUALA LUMPUR: The Food Supply Stock Programme being carried out by the government through the Federal Agricultural Marketing Board ( FAMA) is one of the initiatives to stabilise food prices and ensure food supply in the local market.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro Based Minister Sim Tze Tzin said it involved FAMA retail outlets throughout the country where food supplies were sourced from local operators and imported from producer countries.

“This year, the programme is extended to 27 commodities such as nine types of vegetables; controlled items, namely sugar, flour and oil, five types of fresh frozen fish ( Q-Fish), standard processed chicken, chicken eggs and agro-based industries goods.

“The government is also implementing a “Household Expenses Saving programme at the Farmers’ Market, People’s Shop Agrobazaar and other retail outlets nationwide that offer price savings of between five to 20 per cent lower than local market prices for 27 selected commodities,” he said during the oral question and answer session in the Dewan Negara sitting yesterday.

He was replying to a question from Tan Sri Dr Ibrahim Shah Abu Shah on the ministry’s efforts in helping to reduce the instability of food prices in local markets.

Sim added that the sales value recorded for the Household Expenses Saving programme was RM46 million from January until April this year.

Additionally the ministry also held the Direct from the Farms Sales programme involving 337 participants with a sales value of RM790,803 recorded from last January until May. — Bernama