Claimed veggie surplus at Lojing Highlands to be probed: Mat Sabu

ALOR STAR – The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry will investigate a reported vegetable surplus occurring in Lojing Highlands and affecting about 500 farmers.

Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) would also provide advisory services to ensure a stable vegetable supply, benefiting local growers.

“Fama is buying vegetables at a higher price than the market price because it wants to help the farmers, but this move does not help in the long term.

“The ministry will ensure coordination is made to balance the supply of local vegetables with imported ones,” he told reporters at an Aidilfitri celebration event here last night.

Mohamad commented on a recent media report that farmers in Lojing Highlands had to throw away thousands of tonnes of unsold vegetables due to an alleged surplus of imported vegetables.

He said the cultivation of certain vegetables by many farmers in one season was one of the factors that caused the oversupply. – Bernama, April 24, 2023