MELAKA (Nov 10): The Farmers' Organisation Authority (LPP) is working to expand market access for its entrepreneurs, aiming to place farmers’ produce in major supermarkets nationwide.

Its chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the initiative seeks to make farmer products more accessible to the public, emphasising that these products match the quality and taste of popular brands.

"So far, farmer products are available at Peladang Outlets in Area Farmers' Organisations (PPK) and State Farmers' Organisations (PPN) across the country, with 20 outlets overall, and at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agrotourism Exhibition (Maha).

"We have started collaborating with Lotus’s, with plans to place farmer products on their shelves, beginning with promotional roadshows at select stores," he told reporters at the Produk Peladang @ Lotus's Promotion Roadshow, which was also attended by LPP director general Amir Matamin.

Mahfuz added that the LPP is exploring international markets for these products, aiming to boost farmers' income through export sales.

To meet rising demand, the LPP will gradually expand the Peladang Outlet (PO) network, depending on funding through the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13).

“We also plan to enhance existing outlets by adding cafés, which will add value and attract visitors, particularly coffee enthusiasts, to shop at these locations,” he added.

Currently, there are eight PO cafés nationwide, including in Melaka PPN, Negeri Sembilan, Cameron Highlands PPK in Pahang, Changlun PPK in Kedah, and Pokok Sena PKK in Penang.

The Produk Peladang @ Lotus's Roadshow covers five locations, with Melaka as the second stop after Setia Alam, Selangor. Upcoming stops include Manjung, Perak (Nov 23-Dec 1), Sungai Petani, Kedah (Dec 7-15), and Tebrau, Johor (Dec 21-29).

The Melaka leg, running for nine days, features 130 stock-keeping units (SKUs), including 50 products by Melaka farmers.

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