JOHOR BAHRU:Since it was created in March, the Controlled Fresh Market (PST) by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) has recorded RM409.16 mln in sales.

Agriculture and Food Industries Deputy Minister (I), Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah, said this amount was logged from March – November by 48 PST across the country, including five in Johor.

He said the PST was created to ensure continuity of food supplies and distributive efficiency during the movement control order (MCO), with the price of goods 10 per cent cheaper compared to other places as well.

“In the new normal, too, AgroBazaar Online recorded RM2.19 mln in sales in the same period.

“The trend has changed and consumers here now prefer to shop online because it is convenient, the prices are reasonable and goods are delivered directly to them,” he told reporters after visiting the Pasar Tani Kekal Permas Jaya (a farmer’s market) today.

FAMA board of directors member, Datuk Wira Ghazale Muhamad, and FAMA Johor director, Shahrizan Sudiman, were also present.

He added that the PST sells basic commodities like vegetables, fruit, fresh meat, poultry and fish, as well as provisions and small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) products.

He said that the five Johor PST -- where there are 273 entrepreneurs -- recorded RM26 mln in sales from March – November, while the AgroBazaar Online for the state recorded RM242,000.

He said that FAMA will increase the number of PST next year if there is demand.

-- BERNAMA