Agency to import chillies

Agency to import chillies
Friday May 11, 2007

THE Federal Agriculture Marketing Au-thority (Fama) will import red chillies to overcome a shortage in Penang.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Indus-try Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar said Penang was the only state facing a shortage of red chillies.

“Fama will import chillies from Thailand and Indonesia by this week. The local supply of chillies has been lower than usual due to the weather,” he said after presenting aid from the Poor Students Trust Fund to 10 schools in tasik Gelugor yesterday.

He said Penang got its supply of chillies from Ipoh and the Cameron Highlands but the harvest had been poor due to rainy weather.

“There had also been a 50% increase in de-mand for chillies during April and May as a result of the festive season,” Mohd Shariff said.

He said the price of the chillies in Penang had risen to RM15 per kg compared to its usual price of RM7 to RM8 per kg due to the shortage.

He said the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry received a complaint yesterday that the price of chillies had shot up.

“They will send their officers to check and monitor the situation closely,” Mohd Shariff added.

The Consumers Association of Penang said in a statement yesterday that housewives had complained that three chillies in Penang markets now cost RM1.50 which was more expensive that a packet of nasi lemak. -- The Star.