KUALA LUMPUR: In line with technological developments and a rise in online purchases, the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama)’s Agrobazaar Online has managed to record RM8 million in sales since it started operations in 2015.
Agrobazaar Online is an online marketing platform for entrepreneurs to market their agricultural-based products and services to customers.
Fama director-general Datuk Zainal Abidin Yang Razalli said among the factors contributed to the sales figure was the switch to online purchases by consumers during the movement control order (MCO).
“When the first MCO was enforced, consumers were seen to have difficulty getting fresh produce and kitchen necessities, as almost all retail outlets such as public markets and farmers’ markets were closed under the directive issued by the National Security Council (MKN).
“Grocery stores and supermarkets were also flooded with consumers who needed to queue, coupled with restrictions to maintain physical distancing,” he said in a statement today.
Therefore, he said, Fama, in collaboration with MKN, took the initiative to offer consumers to get fresh produce through Agrobazaar Online.
“Agrobazaar Online managed to record RM2.17 million in sales from March 18 to Nov 8.
“It involves the sales of fresh products and agro-based products of RM1.18 million and RM0.99 million respectively as well as 41,654 delivery services during the period,” he said.
He also said that the Agrobazaar Online portal is frequently congested due to high traffic as the result of the impact of the distribution of Short Messaging System (SMS) managed by MKN.
On that basis, he said Fama is working with other e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, Foodpanda and others, that aimed at facilitating consumers to get fresh produce.
“Fama also works with logistics companies such as Pos Malaysia, Lalamove and GoGet to facilitate the collection and delivery of the products.
“Fama is also planning to enter a collaborative effort to provide training to entrepreneurs to develop their own e-commerce website through Shoppergram.Com and eFAMAplace platforms,” he said.
As at October, Zainal Abidin said Fama had held 49 sessions involving entrepreneurs across the country.
“Fama-guided entrepreneur outlets are also served as a place for online collection and marketing for consumers to get agricultural products.
“There is also the first phase of Agrohub development in five new locations, namely, Perak, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Sabah which use the Agrohub concept similar to MyKopie Satu, Selayang,” he said.
He explained that, overall, Fama managed to record RM721.58 million in sales through marketing outlets such as Agrobazaar Online; operation centres of Fama/Fama Co; Controlled Fresh Markets; Permanent Farmers’ Market (selected locations); MyFarm Outlet, People’s Agrobazaar Shops; and People’s Agrobazaar. ‒ Bernama
