KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS) will ensure an adequate supply of vegetables following the northeast monsoon phase, which usually occurs in several states towards the end of the year.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said this is one of the issues faced by the ministry every year and his team will also monitor the prices of vegetables, at the farmer’s level, which are expected to rise during that season.
“We are always monitoring. That is why we have buffer stock, and we will make an effort that if the local supply is insufficient, then we will try to import. The important thing is that we want the supply of vegetables to be available and guaranteed. Regarding prices, we will try to control it as best as we can,” he said.
Mohamad was speaking to the press after handing over mock keys for 12 ‘cold truck’ and ‘wooden truck’ vehicles, involving an allocation of RM2.7 million, to representatives of the Farmers’ Organisation Authority (PPK) from across the country today.
On the handing over of the vehicles, he said the lorries would help the PPK market quality food products and ensure the freshness of the products to the consumer’s level.
Previously, it was reported that vegetable prices were expected to increase in November and December due to the northeast monsoon phase, which has the potential to cause heavy rain and floods in several areas in the country.
— Bernama
