KUALA LUMPUR: The price of red chilli has seen a sharp increase from last week as it is nearing the end of its growing season, while awaiting for new batch of the crop to ripen and be harvested, said Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama) director-general Datuk Ahmad Ishak.
He said considering that the price increase was affecting the country, the authorities were monitoring the situation and its (chillies) output this week.
He said the wholesale price for chilli was typically between RM10 and RM15 per kilogramme (Kg) but it had gone up to RM20 for 1kg, while the retail price of between RM11 and RM12 for 1kg increased to between RM14 and RM15.
“Fama will look at the methods that can be implemented to overcome the price increase, among others, the cultivation of red chilli in the country and to import it from authorised countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and China,” he told reporters after launching the Produk Juara Fama Terengganu at the MyBest Buy programme here yesterday.
Ahmad said that Fama had achieved RM16 million in sales last year for the entire MyBest Buy programme, exceeding its target collection of RM14 million.
He added that Fama would increase the number of nationwide locations under the programme from 162 to 200 and had targetted sales at RM16 million. – Bernama
