Cameron highlands: The Pahang state government has announced plans to establish a vegetable wholesale hub in Cameron Highlands to mitigate farmers' dependence on middlemen, who are believed to be influencing market prices.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Sim Chon Siang highlighted that the initiative comes in response to farmers' complaints about receiving as low as 20 sen per kilogramme for certain produce. Previously, farmers could earn more than RM1 for about 15 types of vegetables, but currently, only two types fetch that price. Sim explained that pricing is largely determined by wholesalers in Selayang, which could negatively impact the agricultural sector and threaten farmers' livelihoods if not addressed.

Sim elaborated that the proposed hub will allow farmers to sell their produce directly. The Cameron Highlands district officer has been assigned the task of identifying a suitable location for the hub. The move aims to address the disproportionate gap between farm and retail prices, with examples like tomatoes selling for significantly low prices at the farm level yet retailing for about RM6.50 per kilogramme due to multiple layers of intermediaries.

In addition to the wholesale hub, Sim addressed traffic congestion issues in Kea Farm. He mentioned the possibility of deploying personnel to manage pedestrian movement and coordinate crossings from 8 am to 7 pm daily. Furthermore, a pedestrian bridge equipped with facilities such as escalators has been proposed as a long-term solution to alleviate congestion and enhance safety.