Pasar tani closure a gut punch for farmers

CORONAVIRUS | The closure of the ubiquitous pasar tani or farmers' market and informal vegetable stalls during the movement control order (MCO) period is taking a toll on farmers and food producers nationwide.

According to Farmers' Organisation Authority (LPP) chairperson Mazlan Aliman, now that the usual marketplaces are gone, his agency is rushing to find new markets.

"We have mobilised our operation centre to resolve complaints by finding an alternative for the farmers to market their crops.

"The situation is under control," Mazlan told Malaysiakini.

The LPP is a government agency set up to improve productivity among farmers.

He said there are 279 LPP offices nationwide and they have been instructed to collect information from the members and he is aware that some farmers had resorted to throwing away their produce.

"We received images of farmers throwing away their rotten vegetables that would have otherwise be sold at the roadside stalls in Kundasang, Sabah, which is now devoid of tourists due to Covid-19.

"So, our LPP district office there helped the farmers to send the vegetables to Kota Kinabalu, which is a two-hour drive away," Mazlan said.

Besides channelling the produce to hypermarkets and supermarkets, he said the LPP also built up an online crop selling network.

This has been implemented in Kuala Langat and several other places.

He said the LPP is helping farmers in Perlis to market their harum manis mango in the Klang Valley, although fruits are not considered to be as important as vegetables by consumers.

Protein production not badly hit

Mazlan said livestock producers and aquaculture farmers are not facing the same problems as they can choose when to sell their produce, unlike vegetable and fruit producers.

Putrajaya is implementing a partial lockdown as an attempt to combat rising Covid-19 positive cases.

It was reported previously that farmers were forced to throw away vegetables and fruits while fisherfolk dumped their catches. 

This had forced the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry to consider reopening some of the pasar tani sites to ease the problem.

Meanwhile, Mazlan noted that during the early stage of the MCO, particular between March 18 and March 23, several shops ran out of rice.

He said farmers were told to cut down their manpower on the field during the MCO period but the issue was ultimately resolved.

"The farmers need the workers to help out, particularly for harvesting and fertilising works," he said.

"The pandemic is a huge test and challenge for us to take care of food security by ensuring the supply is not disrupted. We need to make sure all farmers can market their products properly and smoothly.

"If we can still channel the rice, vegetables, chicken and beef to the buyers, then we pass the test," Mazlan added. - Mkini