Abdul Rashid (left) looking at eggs sold by a trader at a pasar tani in Merlimau, Melaka. — Bernamapic
FARMERS’ markets or pasar tani are developing rapidly after recording sales of RM244.6mil at 223 locations nationwide, involving 8,542 entrepreneurs.
Federal Agricultural and Marketing Authority (Fama) director-general Abdul Rashid Bahri said when farmers’ markets were set up in 1985, there were only 12 involving 317 participants with annual sales of RM1.4mil.
“In 39 years, farmers’ markets have gone through several phases – introduction phase (1985 to 1994), consolidation (1995 to 2003), modernisation (2004 to 2010), transformational (2011 to 2020) and digitalisation (2021 till now).
“Fama aims to open 14 new farmers’ markets and upgrade 40 existing ones,” he said in a statement as reported by Bernama.
The first farmers’ market was launched at the Tampoi Fama complex’s cold room in Johor Baru on Jan 31, 1985, by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was agriculture minister at the time.
“Farmers’ markets have developed greatly and is a destination of choice for consumers.
“They have contributed to the development of the national economy,” said Abdul Rashid.
He added that the setting up of farmers’ markets had created a responsive generation of farmers.
“It has sped up the socio-economic development of the agricultural community in line with the National Agrofood Policy,” he said.
Abdul Rashid said Agro Madani had recorded RM4.4mil in sales until Jan 21, involving 4,120 entrepreneurs and benefitting 324,000 households.
