Super El Nino: Ministry boosts food security measures

KUALA LUMPUR: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has stepped up inter-agency preparedness to address the Super El Nino phenomenon, which is already showing early effects in the country.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, said the agrofood sector faces mounting challenges from the Middle East conflict alongside extreme heat and prolonged dry weather, which could disrupt staple food supplies.

He said close monitoring is focused on dam water levels, particularly Kedah's Ahning Dam, where levels remain at alert and warning thresholds, threatening padi cultivation across the Muda granary area.

"The ministry has mobilised inter-agency preparedness measures through an integrated approach and the use of technology.

"These include implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), expanding the Smart Irrigation Monitoring System, introducing alternative water management methods for padi cultivation, and promoting Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) to ensure sustainable water security," he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2027 for the ministry in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Mohamad said preparations were also under way in the fisheries sector, as rising sea temperatures shift fish distribution, affect aquaculture water quality, and threaten reef ecosystems.

He said capture fisheries and aquaculture production in affected areas could decline by 5,624 metric tonnes, or 1.5 per cent, this year.

To counter these challenges, Mohamad said the ministry had introduced early weather warning systems, the MyFSI location tracking system, and the Aquaculture Disaster Mitigation Plan, alongside the Fisheries Sector Climate Change Action Plan 2024-2030.

"Under the 2027 Budget, RM125.9 million in fiscal support has been allocated, including RM30 million for an additional 3,000 special small-boat licences, RM30 million for Agro BioFloc financing, RM10 million for Capture Fisheries Catalyst Financing, and RM2.3 million for biofisheries and biosecurity initiatives," he said.

He added that national frozen fish reserves are being built up, with total stocks reaching 10,000 metric tonnes as of Sept 30 to prepare for both Super El Nino and the Northeast Monsoon.

Overall, the ministry received an allocation of RM6.92 billion under Budget 2027, comprising RM4.85 billion for operating expenditure and RM2.07 billion for development expenditure.