PUTRAJAYA: The Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Ministry has given its assurance that food supplies are sufficient for Ramadan up until Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Its minister Salahuddin Ayub said since there will be no shortages, the prices of food items at the markets, specifically pasar tani should be reasonable despite there being an increase in demand during the festive season.
He added that the ministry had been taking pro-active measures to ensure adequate supplies including increasing the output of locally manufactured goods, increasing import quota for selected food items as well as imposing a ban on overseas fish export.
"Preparations to ensure main food supplies like chicken, meat, fish, vegetables and fruits are sufficient to cater for the festive season have been ongoing for the past three months," he said in a statement today.
Salahuddin informed that during Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the estimate output for major food items are 49,733 metric tonnes for meat (local and import), 351,046 metric tonnes for chickens (local) and 2.8 billion chicken eggs.
Apart from that, the estimate output for round cabbages are 15,000 metric tonnes and fish (various species) were 108,500 metric tonnes.
In the event of supply shortage or an increase in prices, consumers are advised to report the matter to the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Ministry and the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK).
"Enforcement will be increased with the cooperation of KPDNKK to ensure there are no elements of profiteering and to ensure traders display the prices of their goods.
"For reference, consumers can download the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority's (FAMA) MyHarga Tani and Go Pasar Tani applications, and KPDNKK's Price Catcher application to obtain information and compare prices," Salahuddin said.