Pahang govt to set up vegetable wholesale hub in Cameron Highlands

 This is to reduce reliance on middlemen, following complaints that farmers are receiving as little as 20 sen per kg for some produce.

Pahang exco member Sim Chon Siang said the gap between farm and retail prices appears disproportionate, citing tomatoes that fetch low prices at farm level but retail at about RM6.50 per kg.

PETALING JAYA:

 The Pahang government will set up a vegetable wholesale hub in Cameron Highlands to reduce farmers’ reliance on middlemen believed to be controlling market prices.

State consumer affairs and human resources committee chairman Sim Chon Siang said farmers had complained of earning as little as 20 sen per kg for some produce.

“Previously, they could earn more than RM1 per kg for about 15 types of vegetables, but now only two types fetch that price. Pricing is determined by wholesalers in Selayang,” Bernama reported him as saying in Kuantan today.

He said the hub would enable farmers to market their produce directly.

Sim also said the gap between farm and retail prices appears disproportionate, citing tomatoes that sell for low prices at farm level but reach about RM6.50 per kg at retail, which he said suggests multiple layers of intermediaries.

On traffic congestion at Kea Farm, he said personnel may be deployed to manage pedestrian movement and coordinate crossings from 8am to 7pm daily.

He said a pedestrian bridge equipped with facilities such as escalators has been proposed as a long-term solution to ease congestion and improve safety. -  FMT