A study done by the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama) showed that Malaysians each consumed 15kg of coconut a year.

Its director-general Ahmad Ishak said based on the current needs, 700 million coconuts were consumed in this country per year while Malaysia’s annual production was only 400 million coconuts.

“So, we have to import the rest to ensure enough supply of coconuts for domestic consumption including during the fasting month and festive seasons,” he said after the launching of the Pre-Ramadan Pasar Tani in Taman Wira Mergong in Alor Setar today.

Ahmad said each month, Fama would be importing one million coconuts but for Ramadan and the coming festive season, the amount imported would increase to three million.

“During each normal month, Sabah and Sarawak will send about 60,000 coconuts to the peninsula to help meet the demand,” he said.

Ahmad said for the coming festive season, supply shortage would not arise as Fama had imported three million coconuts from Indonesia, to be sold at RM1 each while local coconuts would cost RM1.20 each.

“Our people prefer to eat local coconuts but if they have no choice, they will buy the imported coconuts,” he said.

He added that imported coconuts were distributed throughout the peninsula from the logislic centres, namely Penang, Port Klang, Batu Pahat, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Baru.

- Bernama