Market Accessibility Problem

The Government of Malaysia, under it food productivity program has been encouraging farmers to produce more livestock including goats and cows. Although the response has been over whelming,especially in the Janda Baik area,the availability of support services interm of veterenary support and marketing capability have not seen a corresponding increase. There is not even a Vet. Doctor in the whole district of Bentong which is supposed to provid extension service for the whole district, including Janda Baik. When asked to help with marketing,no positive lead was forthcoming.

I am of the view that marketing is one of the weaknesses of governmental efforts to help the rural poor. Many crops and animal husbandary are encourage but when they are produced in large quantities, prices drop leading to gluts and dissapointment to the growers.The food processing industry is not of much help.The role of FAMA should be reevaluated to help solve small farmers marketing probem throughout the country.

MSAbdullah.