KUALA KANGSAR: The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) has assured that the rock melons cultivated in Perak is free of disease and safe to consume.
This follows a news report on March 3 titled ‘Three Australians Die, More Sick In Listeria Outbreak Tied To Melons’, which said the rock melons consumed by the victims were contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes.
FAMA deputy director Fatimie Mohd Fauzi said none of the fruits grown locally had been found to contain the bacteria.
“If there is a problem with the plants grown on contract farms, we will conduct an inspection, and so far, the rock melons grown here are free from disease,” he said during a press conference held after a programme to harvest rock melons grown by contract farmers at Kampung Bekor, Manong, near Kuala Kangsar.
He said several agricultural agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and FAMA also conducted periodical checks and advised farmers on the use of the latest farming technologies.
Fatimie said as of now, Perak has 20 contract farmers cultivating 3,608 hectares of farmland, generating a total of RM58.8 million in sales last year. — BERNAMA