Kuala Terengganu:The Terengganu branch of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) has stepped in to assist local coconut growers by purchasing coconuts from 69 participants of the 'Projek Berkelompok Kelapa Kampung Dendang'. This action comes in response to reduced demand due to an influx of imported coconuts in the market since the beginning of the year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, a total of 11,380 coconuts were acquired by the Kuala Terengganu FAMA Operations Centre between April 29 and November 3. This initiative aims to alleviate the marketing burden for the project participants by purchasing the coconuts at farm prices ranging from RM1.10 to RM1.50 each, aligning with current market rates.

The purchased coconuts are then distributed to local wholesalers and FAMA retail outlets within the Kuala Terengganu district. This effort is designed to prevent the coconuts from going unsold and potentially spoiling, thereby mitigating financial losses for the growers.

The 'Projek Berkelompok Kelapa Kampung Dendang' involves the cultivation of 5,000 Matag variety coconut trees over 20 hectares, planted in 2009 and yielding results since 2012. Project leader Mohamed Zakaria Awang, 66, noted that wholesalers and coconut milk traders in Dungun previously sourced their coconuts from this project. However, they have shifted to cheaper imported coconuts, priced at approximately 80 sen each.