KUALA LUMPUR – The construction of a new Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) building has been in the pipeline since 2011, said Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee.
The land-swap method used for the project was implemented in accordance with existing procurement procedures, and has obtained cabinet approval, he said during the winding-up debate on the Supply Bill 2021 at the committee level for the ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.
“This process went through three prime ministers since 2011, and it was passed and signed only after the formation of the Perikatan Nasional government.”
The matter was raised by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PH-Port Dickson) during the debate, with the opposition leader questioning whether the government is prioritising the building of a RM220 million “castle” in Kelana Jaya or helping farmers market their produce.
Kiandee said the building will have an agro-bazaar sales centre.
“Fama’s functions and roles have been streamlined by implementing new marketing methods, such as digitalisation and e-commerce.
“Farmers have been given guidance to produce goods that are relevant to the needs of the industry.
“Fama will also continue to play an important role in helping market agro-food products.”
Despite the reduced allocation for the padi price subsidy scheme in Budget 2021, he said, the Finance Ministry has given an assurance of additional funding when rice production increases.
He said he has voiced concern that the RM570 million allocation, down from the RM620 million set aside for this year, is insufficient to meet the production target of 1.9 million metric tonnes of rice next year.
The matter was raised by Datuk Mahfuz Omar (PH-Pokok Sena) and Tan Sri Noh Omar (BN-Tg Karang), who wanted to know whether the government is confident about meeting the target. – Bernama, December 2, 2020
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