Stabilizing the price of vegetables

Distribution centres to be set up in Perak to stabilise prices of greens
Monday November 20, 2006

PUTRAJAYA: Two distribution centres will be set up in Perak in an effort to stabilise the prices of local greens, especially in the run-up to the festive season.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said these centres would act as a converging point for vegetables and fruits grown in Cameron Highlands.

“At these centres, vegetable and fruit farmers will be encouraged to sell their produce directly to the wholesalers, without having to go through many middlemen.

“In the long run, we hope such a move will benefit consumers by reducing the prices of greens, particularly when there are still some unscrupulous traders who continue to take advantage of the festive season by increasing the prices of goods during the festive season.

“We have found out that usually, the prices may increase during this period by a few sen, but by the time these reach the consumers, it will have increased manifold,” he told reporters after launching the Smart Consumer Day seminar here on Monday.

Shafie said the ministry was currently discussing with hypermarket chains Tesco and Giant to manage these centres, which would serve markets in the northern and southern regions of the peninsula respectively.

“We hope to set up these centres by the middle of next year, the latest by August or September.

“We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of such a scheme because we hope to set up similar centres in other parts of the country as well as to handle the distribution of fish and marine products at the country’s many jetties,” he said.

On the supply of sugar in the country, Shafie said the manufacturers in the country were still required to increase production by 50%.

“The directive is for them to increase production until such time when the ministry feels is no longer necessary,” he said. - The Star.