James Kon
The resumption of Pasar Kitani weekend market yesterday received an encouraging response from the public.
The market, organised by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), will be held every Sunday beginning yesterday at the parking spaces of the MPRT building on Jalan Menteri Besar.
It was halted since August 2021 due to the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Sultanate.
Some 46 local entrepreneurs and farmers are participating in the weekend market, selling fresh produce including vegetables, fruit, poultry and agrifood products. Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong visited the market yesterday.
A local farmer said, “This is a good platform for farmers to sell their produce at an affordable price as all the produce are direct from local farms. We hope the public will visit this market and support local produce.”
He added that the market highlights the importance of local farming, especially the need for more local youth to engage in farming business.
The Pasar Kitani weekend market is an initiative by MPRT to support local farmers to supply their produce directly to consumers as well as encouraging a sustainable environment.
The market is also a centre for value chain distribution for import commodities balance and a platform for farmers to interact with the public as well as increase market network. It is hoped that the initiative will help local farmers to expand the country’s agriculture industry.
The Department of Agriculture and Agrifood reminded visitors to comply with the standard operating procedures put in place by the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of COVID-19.
