FAMA Encourages Use Of Local Fruits At Govt Functions

REMBAU, July 17 (Bernama) -- The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) encouraged government agencies to serve local fruits at official events, as part of efforts to support and promote the country’s agro-based products.

FAMA director-general Abdul Rashid Bahri said that such an initiative would not only help strengthen the economy of local fruit and vegetable entrepreneurs but also raise public awareness on the importance of prioritising locally produced goods.

He added that the exemption of Sales and Service Tax (SST) on local fruits has also contributed to the growing demand for local produce.

“The local fruits and vegetables campaign this time is more focused and ongoing. We have also reminded government functions to prioritise local products and menus, and caterers have been informed of this directive.

“We can already see an increase in the use of local fruits at government events compared with the past, when imported fruits such as oranges, grapes and apples were commonly served,” he told reporters after opening the Kopiesatu branch at Petron Pedas, here, today.

Abdul Rashid said that the growing demand for local products has encouraged farmers to increase production, while FAMA remains committed to promoting local sales campaigns, particularly for high-demand items, such as bananas, pineapples and watermelons.

In another development, he said that FAMA would continue efforts to strengthen the local coffee industry through its Kopiesatu brand, a wholly-owned product of the agency, which has been in the market since 2001 and now operates 23 branches nationwide.

“This initiative not only delivers the taste of high-quality local coffee, but also serves as a platform for entrepreneur development, particularly in the food and beverage sector,” he added.

“The main objective of establishing Kopiesatu is to position it as a leader among small and medium entrepreneurs in the coffee industry, cater to the demand for local coffee products, and promote the country’s agro-based sector.

“Kopiesatu also aims to raise public awareness about the availability of high-quality and competitive local coffee brands,” he said.

He added that the Kopiesatu business model is offered through a licensing scheme, priced at RM20,000, which includes facilities and support such as administrative assistance, training, a POS software system, branded uniforms, marketing, monitoring, and continuous licensing support.

The licensing packages available include kiosk setups, food trucks (new or existing), and push carts.

-- BERNAMA