KUALA TERENGGANU: Fancy buying fresh farm cattle, sheep, poultry, diary products, fruits or vegetables conveniently?
Look no further and head straight to the one-stop Pasar Ternakan (livestock market) at the Terengganu veterinary centre in Manir every Friday and Saturday.
Pasar Ternakan event manager Kamaruddin Mohamad, 36, said the 0.4ha facility has already churned up RM160,000 in sales the past five weeks since it began operations.
The facility, he said, was a a joint venture initiative between the Terengganu Livestock Association and the Terengganu Veterinary Services Department.
“The department has provided us the land for animal breeders and farmers to bring in their fresh produce directly from their villages and trade them here.
‘We charge a nominal fee of between RM2-RM10 per day for them to display their produce. We even help with logistics to transport their produce from the villages and then send it back,” said Kamaruddin.
The interesting fact about the market, he said, was that breeders, farmers and consumers could do away with the hassle of having to run around town to sell and buy their produce, thanks to the one-stop centre concept.
“Our marketing strategy is through word of mouth and social media which has proven very effective. We will be setting up our own website in due course,” said Kamaruddin.
There are plans to upgrade the market in time for Visit Terengganu Year 2017 to woo tourists.
He added that the prices of the animals, poultry, vegetabls and fruits were competitive, with processed chicken being sold at only RM6 per kilogramme.
Goats and lambs were sold between RM500 and RM4,000, while cattle at between RM2,000 and RM7,000 each.
“Some special breed like the Charolais breed weighing nearly one tonne can fetch much more money,” he said.
Kamaruddin added the association provided 10 volunteers and the department equals the number to run the market.
Among the goats breeds are Barbados, African Boer, British Alpine and Saenen, while the cattle include limousine, KK (from Kedah and Kelantan) and Charolais.
Terengganu Veterinary Services Department director Dr Termizi Ghazali said they only allow local produce to be traded there, to protect the interest of local breeders and farmers.
“We asssist the animal breeders in screening their livestock for diseases and other health issues. This is to ensure there is no spread of diseases that can not only harm the animals but humans as well,” said Dr Termizi.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Investment coordinator Datuk Tok Teng Sai, 78, said that while the market complemented additional income for the breeders and farmers, it would be an ideal attraction for tourists during ‘Visit Terengganu Year 2017’.
“We plan to raise RM1.2 million to upgrade the facilities for the convenience and benefit of all stakeholders.
“Eventually, this will be a premier centre for animal and farm produce, just like the efforts for a fish market at fishermen’s villages in the state,” said Tok.