By Suhaila Shahrul Annuar
SUBANG JAYA, Sept 20 — The Selangor Pavilion at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (Maha) 2024 serves as a platform for entrepreneurs to expand the market potential of their products.
Meme Vanilla Farm founder Chong Yee Hang said that dozens of vanilla plants are on display, offering visitors the chance to see this plant, which has high commercial value in the market.
So far about 1,700 vanilla plants have been cultivated on a 1.5-acre farm in Kuala Kubu Baharu over the past four years.
“Many people admit they have never seen a vanilla plant up close, so at the Selangor Pavilion they have the opportunity to see, touch, and feel the texture of the vanilla beans, and they can buy them.
“There are bakery and ice cream business owners here interested in getting a supply of vanilla from us, and some are looking for advice on how to start vanilla cultivation,” he said during Maha 2024 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park in Serdang today.
Meanwhile, LPY Aquaculture Sdn Bhd manager Sharihan Fathi said they are showcasing gourami fish, which holds high commercial value, to visitors at the Selangor Pavilion.
The fish species is not only on display, but visitors also have the opportunity to purchase it.
“Only at Maha do we open sales to visitors, as so far it has only been sold to restaurant traders. Visitors to the Selangor Pavilion are fortunate because they can taste it and take home frozen fish.
“In Malaysia, many people may be hesitant to eat gourami fish, perhaps because they have heard old myths about it, but in reality, it is edible and very popular in Indonesia,” she said.
Selangor Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) deputy director (development) Siti Mariam Abd Ghani said that from last Wednesday (September 11) until yesterday, the sales of entrepreneurs’ products and the café at the Selangor Pavilion amounted to approximately RM25,000.
“We brought 117 types of products produced by local entrepreneurs and Fama, and we also opened the Kanchong Darat Coffee@Kopie Satu café at the Selangor Pavilion.
“Among the best-selling products here throughout Maha 2024 are pre-mixed cocoa drinks, instant Bandung noodles, sea grapes, and snack items like keropok.
“We expect the number of visitors to increase over the last two days; tomorrow and Sunday (September 22), and Fama will launch great promotional offers,” she said.
Previously, state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim said the pavilion aims for 50,000 visitors, which serves as an excellent business matching platform for companies and entrepreneurs from the state to expand their product markets.
He added that it also aimed for the signing of cooperation agreements and business matching opportunities, as entrepreneurs and state agencies have products with high export potential.
With the theme ‘Menuai Harapan, Membina Masa Hadapan’, Maha 2024, the largest agricultural exhibition in Southeast Asia, features over 2,000 sales booths and is open from 10am to 10 pm from September 11 until this Sunday.
