Kuala lumpur: The Perak Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) has established 20 temporary collection centers (PPS) for seasonal fruits across the state. State FAMA Director Azleena Zainal Abidin stated that these centers were set up to facilitate the collection, cleaning, grading, and marketing of fruit produce, particularly durians, which have now entered their peak season.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, FAMA has expanded its durian marketing network through the Agro MADANI Sales Programme, Agrobazaars, sales at government offices, residential areas, and various strategic retail locations nationwide. This initiative allows consumers to obtain fresh, quality durians at reasonable prices, while helping entrepreneurs market their produce more quickly, systematically, and effectively.
The Perak State FAMA Operations Center has also initiated durian paste processing activities as part of its marketing and value-added strategies. This approach aims to overcome produce surplus and increase product value. Azleena highlighted that this processing method allows durians to be turned into high-quality paste with a longer shelf life, offering potential for marketing to the food processing industry, bakeries, desserts, and export markets.
Azleena made these statements at the Mega Agro MADANI Sales Programme, officiated by State Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture, and Food Industry Committee Chairman, Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun, at the Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) Gopeng.
Commenting further, Azleena mentioned that the initiative provides smallholders an opportunity to market "durian kampung" (village durians) that are difficult to sell fresh, while also reducing losses due to oversupply. Between June 9 and June 21, Perak FAMA successfully marketed 1,126 metric tonnes of durians, achieving a sales value of RM3.38 million, demonstrating the effectiveness of FAMA's marketing network in efficiently channeling local durian produce to consumers.
Azleena emphasized that Perak State FAMA will continue to strengthen strategic cooperation with entrepreneurs, collectors, wholesalers, retailers, and related agencies to expand market access for local agricultural produce. Broader, organized, and competitive market access not only provides better returns for operators but also ensures consumers enjoy a supply of fresh, quality products at reasonable prices.