Petron pedas: The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) has called on government agencies to prioritize serving local fruits at official events, aiming to bolster support for the nation’s agro-based products. This initiative is designed to enhance the economic standing of local fruit and vegetable entrepreneurs, while simultaneously elevating public awareness regarding the importance of favoring domestically produced goods.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, FAMA director-general Abdul Rashid Bahri highlighted that the exemption of Sales and Service Tax (SST) on local fruits has been a significant factor in the rising demand for these products. He noted that the current campaign promoting local fruits and vegetables is more focused and continuous, with a directive for government functions to prioritize local products. Caterers have been informed to comply with this initiative, resulting in an increased presence of local fruits at government events, in contrast to the past when imported fruits were more common.

Abdul Rashid further explained that this growing demand has motivated farmers to boost production, while FAMA remains committed to advancing local sales campaigns, especially for high-demand items like bananas, pineapples, and watermelons. In a related development, he also discussed FAMA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the local coffee industry through its Kopiesatu brand. Established in 2001, Kopiesatu now operates 23 branches nationwide and serves as a platform for entrepreneur development in the food and beverage sector.

The primary goal of Kopiesatu is to position itself as a leader among small and medium entrepreneurs in the coffee industry, meeting the demand for local coffee products, and promoting the agro-based sector. The brand also seeks to increase public awareness about high-quality and competitive local coffee options. The Kopiesatu business model is offered through a licensing scheme priced at RM20,000, which includes a range of facilities and support such as administrative assistance, training, a POS software system, branded uniforms, marketing, and ongoing licensing assistance. The available licensing packages cater to various setups, including kiosks, food trucks, and push carts.