The agency in a statement said it had identified the farmer by visiting his six-hectare pineapple farm, which comprised mostly Moris and Josapine varieties at Parit Lapis Maimon, Parit Lubok Darat Semerah in Batu Pahat near here, on June 30.

“It is estimated that the crop of 125,000 pineapples will be transported from the farm, starting at the end of last month until the middle of August. The fruits could not be sold because the wholesaler did not come to take the fruits as usual, due to a drop in demand in the market during the lockdown.

“LPNM also offered assistance to the farmer by marketing and matching up with pineapple canning factories, besides trying to identify wholesalers who need pineapples at the moment,” the agency said.

LPNM added that it was taking appropriate measures in handling issues affecting pineapple farmers during the lockdown, including issuing movement permission letters to facilitate them in carrying out agricultural, processing and marketing activities.

“Besides that LPNM is also collaborating with factories, matching them with wholesalers, besides intensifying a campaign to promote eating pineapple within the community,” the statement said.

The agency urged pineapple farmers nationwide who faced marketing problems to channel their complaints to the state LPNM office via email at www.mpib.gov.my/fms or the LPNM official Facebook page to enable immediate measures to be taken.