JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 20 — The Johor Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) hopes local authorities will consider allowing farmers’ markets in the state that have been ordered to close temporarily to resume operations.
Its director Shahrizan Sudiman said Johor FAMA would ensure strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) compliance at all farmers’ markets in the state in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“We accept the decision to temporarily close the markets but we hope that the authorities will listen to the traders’ grievances and look into their plight.
“We will comply (with all the stipulated SOPs) including if there is any additional SOP,” he said when met by reporters at Datin Halimah permanent farmers' markets here today.
He was commenting on the temporary closure order issued against all night markets, morning markets, special markets, Johor Bahru Bazaar and farmers' markets (excluding permanent farmers’ markets) under the jurisdiction of the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) beginning October 16 to curb the spread of the Covid-19.
Besides four farmers’ markets here, there are five others which have also been ordered to temporarily close namely two in Simpang Renggam and one each Pasir Gudang, Pontian and Kulai, involving about 500 traders.
Meanwhile, Shahrizan encouraged the affected traders to market their products online through the Agrobazaar Online platform as it has become a popular choice since the movement control order came into force, last March.
He said Agrobazaar Online has recorded up to RM200,000 in sales value from the period of March to September this year.
— Bernama
