Fama To Organise Agro Madani Carnivals@ptk In Six Locations This Year

BUTTERWORTH, May 31 (Bernama) -- The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) are targetting 235,000 visitors and 450 entrepreneurs to benefit from the Agro MADANI Carnival @Pasar Tani Kekal (PTK) held throughout the country this year.

FAMA chairman Aminuddin Zulkipli said six PTK locations have been identified to host the Agro MADANI Carnival, starting from the PTK Seberang Jaya, here as the first location, followed by PTK Chukai, Terengganu; PTK Chini Pekan, Pahang; PTK Pusat Transformasi Luar Bandar (RTC) Kelantan; PTK Datin Halimah in Johor and PTK Changlun in Kedah.

“In line with FAMA’s objective of expanding the marketing accessibility to consumers, the carnival is seen as the right platform to assist the government to overcome the rising cost of living expenses by providing agrofood products at affordable prices to ease the burden of consumers and help entrepreneurs by providing outlets to market their products via FAMA.

“The objective of the Agro MADANI Carnival @PTK is to promote agrofood products, food industry and agro-based products, vegetables, fruits, flowers and livestock to the local communities and set up a marketing network for agrofood that can increase the income of farmers, entrepreneurs, breeders, retailers, wholesalers and exporters,” he said in his speech at the opening of the Agro MADANI Carnival@PTK in Seberang Jaya, here today.

In addition, the organisation of the programme would benefit participants, consisting of contract farmers, government-guided entrepreneurs, manufacturers or processors of agro-food products.

Sellers would enjoy increased income through the concept of direct sales to consumers without involving middlemen, collectors and wholesalers.

He said through the carnival, entrepreneurs can expand the marketability of their agro-based products and local fresh products for the local and international markets through various initiatives and programmes.

FAMA has also has taken the approach of expanding the programme’s implementation in its retail outlets nationwide, including farmers markets, permanent farmers markets, and ‘agrobazaars’.

Meanwhile, the four-day Agro MADANI Carnival @PTK Seberang Jaya which started yesterday, is targetted to attract 30,000 visitors with sales expected to reach RM500,000.

During the ceremony, Aminuddin also handed out grants from FAMA worth RM275,000 to 31 entrepreneurs under the Geran Agropreneur Muda, Geran Change Upgrade Product (CUP), Program Pemasar Kontrak Pemasaran (RPKP), Pusat Pengumpulan Ladang (PPL) and New Breed Marketing Entrepreneur (NMBE) Explore Race competition initiatives.

-- BERNAMA