KLUANG: The rebranding of Agricultural Product Collection Centre (APCC) to Peladang Outlet (PO) launched yesterday, will reduce the role of the middleman in agricultural product purchasing and marketing in the country.

Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said through PO, operators can sell their products with more profits, as less than RM1 management charge imposed on every one kilogramme of each product, depending on the market price.

He said the rebranding will also increase the centre’s commercial value and raise consumer awareness on the existence of Peladang brand in the market.

“For instance for one kilogramme of chilies priced at RM9, PO buys at RM8. If it is the middleman, they buy only around RM6, nothing less than that.

“As such, of course their profits are bigger, but with PO, all the middleman’s works are done at the centre, before the products are sold to buyers comprising of supermarkets, wholesalers and others,” he said.

Ronald said this to reporters after a national-level PO launching ceremony at Kluang’s Area Farmer Organisation (PPK) here, yesterday.

Also present were State Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Samsolbari Jamali, Farmers’ Organisation Authority (LPP) chairman Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh and LLP director Datuk Azulita Salim.

Ronald said the programme’s rebranding is also to ensure that Farmers’ Organisation (PP) marketing channel remains in the business in line with the Fourth Industry Revolution (IR 4.0).

“The use of PO branding is the new brand that will represent the whole PP so that it can compete and become the pioneer to marketing activities and boost the function of Peladang.

Prior to that, in conjunction with the ceremony, Ronald also handed over 22 refrigerated trucks and cargoes with the allocation of RM3.4 million to PP nationwide.

The allocation was given under PP Agrofood Special Fund (Mobilisation and Logistic) through the Prihatin Economic Stimulus Package.

Also presented was the Organic Agriculture Project fund worth RM3.2 million and rolling capital allocation for Kluang PPK worth RM400,000.

-- BERNAMA