JASIN, Feb 24 (Bernama) – 1Malaysia People’s Agrobazaars (ABR1M), through the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), is not only providing allocations to upgrade the retail premises of entrepreneurs nationwide, but also transforming those in the retail sector by raising income.

Retailer Hamidah Jabil, 58, did not expect her business, which began as a small village stall selling a few essential items, would transform into a modern retail outlet following her participation in the ABR1M project.

”I am grateful and thank FAMA for the ABR1M allocation given. It has helped a lot towards developing my business and boosting income,” she told Bernama.

Previously, sales revenue from her retail business in Sungai Rambai here, only managed to reach RM67,000 a month. Since taking part in the ABR1M development programme, monthly sales have risen to RM120,000.

The owner of Warisan Uda Enterprise said she owed all her success today to the trust and continuous support from FAMA, which provided advice and guidance in tandem with her business growth.

According to Hamidah, who has four years of experience in business, her life began to change after FAMA Melaka approved an ABR1M allocation of RM76,600 in September 2016 to transform her retail premises.

Under the project, she is required to ensure that her sales commodities comprise 50 per cent fresh goods, 10 per cent frozen products and 40 per cent grocery items, sold at fair prices.

In view of her outlet’s operating hours of 7 am to 9 pm, together with an employee, she would visit FAMA’s wholesale centre and markets around Muar, Johor, as early as 3 am daily to secure 70 kilogrammes of fresh produce.

“Besides providing fresh produce to customers every day, we also offer retail discounts of between five and 20 per cent compared with other retail shops,” said the employer of four workers.

To date, there are four ABR1M outlets in Melaka with three in Central Melaka and the first in Jasin district owned by Hamidah, the third child among nine siblings.

Meanwhile, housewife Noridah Isa, 61, often buys fresh goods such as fish, chicken and vegetables from Hamidah’s ABR1M outlet due to the low prices and high quality items.

“?t this ABR1M, I can also easily get products supplied by FAMA such as coffee, biscuits and fruit-flavoured drinks at reasonable prices. In addition, the shop offers a lot of choices, which always meets my needs,” she added.

FAMA yesterday announced it aimed to achieve ABR1M sales of more than RM150 million nationwide by year-end with the addition of 14 more outlets, comprising at least one in each state, starting next month.

Up to December last year, sales of the 108 ABR1Ms nationwide hit RM143.50 million.

ABR1M is a project to upgrade existing retail premises of entrepreneurs by offering agricultural produce direct from producers to consumers, as well as offer basic necessities at reasonable prices.

The project is among the government’s initiatives to reduce the cost of food in line with the objectives of the Economic Transformation Programme and National Key Economic Areas to transform the retail sector by 2020.