NATURAL DISASTER VS AGRICULTURE IN MALAYSIA

NATURAL DISASTERS particularly floods and land sliding in Malaysia are frequently caused by climate changes. The impacts are also faced by farms and farmers in the form of production loss, farm infrastructure and even on the psychology of farmers. Consequently, the agricultural sector is becoming riskier which would affect the food security of the country. Current research was carried out to assess the level of impacts of natural disasters on farms and farmers in the last five years. The impact level was measured on the scale of low, medium, and high. The respondents were 360 farmers who were selected through one of the probability sampling techniques. The results revealed that climate changes in the form of natural disasters highly destroyed farm production, crashed irrigation and drainage facilities, and negatively affected emotions and psychology of farmers. The study recommends that various agricultural players such as public and private organizations, researchers, academia, students, and policy makers are required to ponder profoundly on the impacts level and formulate strategies to facilitate farmers and their farms. Keywords: agriculture, natural disasters, adaptation, climate change, Malaysia. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" I write about how natural disaster affect the agriculture produce in Malaysia as reported in media in 2024.

Media reported 'Northern floods impact 5,800 hectares of rice crops, cause RM32 million loss' in Nothern Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 5,822.59 hectares of rice crops in the northern states have been affected by flooding, with an estimated loss of RM32 million in rice yield. Agriculture and Food Security Minister said in view of this the ministry will provide post-disaster assistance to affected farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen, through a coordinated effort. Rice growers will receive aid via the Padi Crop Disaster Fund (TBTP), while the Agricultural Disaster Fund (TBP) will support those involved in agro-food activities other than rice cultivation. In addition to the assistance in which AgroBank has announced a moratorium on payments for its customers impacted by the current floods. The affected farmers, breeders, fishermen and entrepreneurs can apply for this relief at their nearest AgroBank branch. The ministry is also ready to mobilise assets to help rescue efforts during floods and if necessary with permission from the National Disaster Management Agency. The fact that in recent floods in Kedah and Perlis have impacted over 2,900 farmers and devastated nearly 6,000 hectares of padi fields under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada). The preliminary assessments put losses at about RM40 million to all agricultural activities. The floods was intensified by climate change, had struck unexpectedly early in the padi planting season, with heavier rain occurring over a shorter period. This year's floods were unexpected. Typically where the floods occur around October but this time but it happened in mid-September and causing padi crops that were ready to be harvested had to be submerged. At the peak of the floods on Sept 21 an area of 5,915 hectares of padi crops were affected, involving 2,928 farmers in Mada areas. The prime minister will also chair a meeting in November to discuss food security with the recent Kedah floods being a major topic of concern. The floods that hit the state this month affected over 8,400 people across seven districts during its peak, with many calling it the worst floods in 14 years. The ministry had requested RM400 million to be allocated through the 2025 Budget for basic infrastructure upgrades in non-Mada padi areas to tackle flood issues. The ministry also exploring padi farming projects in Sabah and Sarawak to ensure national food security, reducing reliance on Kedah as the country's main rice producer.

In other report stated that 'Floods: 30,000 tonnes of padi worth over RM50mil wiped out' where a farmer known as Yaakob Ahmad shows his paddy field that was damaged by floods in Kampung Alor Pudak, Kedah. Reported that last week's floods in the northern states last week have left the most devastating impact in recent times on the padi farming sector, with a staggering 30,000 metric tonnes of crop worth over RM50 million estimated to have been wiped out. The  National Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation (Pesawah) chairman Abdul Rashid Yob said the losses were estimated based on a Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) survey where over 5,900 hectares of padi fields under the agency's purview in Kedah and Perlis have been submerged by the floods. Mada oversees some 100,000 ha of padi fields and there are over 30,000 hectares more padi fields under other authorities such as Area Farmers' Organisation Authority (PPK) in Kedah and Perlis. The 30,000 metric tonnes of padi crop losses is a conservative estimate for now, as we believe that over 6,000 hectares of padi fields in the three states have been submerged by the floods. The over RM50 million losses are calculated based on today's padi purchasing price of RM1,800 per metric tonne by private padi millers and the average five metric tonnes padi yield per hectare. Last week's floods in the northern states last week have left the most devastating impact in recent times on the padi farming sector, with a staggering 30,000 metric tonnes of crop worth over RM50 million estimated to have been wiped out. He feared that the extent of damage to the padi crop could reach up to 7,000 hectares combined in the northern states, since farmers in Penang were also affected by the recent floods. This is by far the biggest blow to our padi farming sector and our food security since the 2005 and 2010 major floods. He added that last week's floods had such a devastating impact since most of the crop had been waiting to be harvested. The damage was not this extensive in 2005 and 2010 as the floods struck when the padi cultivation was in the early stage. This time around normally the floods hit when the crop was about to be harvested. As for Kedah Farmers' Organisation Authority (LPP) said 1,260 hectares of padi fields under the agency were affected by the floods. The damage was reported in 64 Farmers' Units across the state involving 853 farmers. LPP estimate the losses suffered by the farmers affected at RM11.34 million based on 6,300 metric tonnes of padi yield damaged by the floods and the current RM1,800 per metric tonne purchasing price by padi millers. About 19,611 farmers under the agency are cultivating over 34,000 hectares of padi fields in Kedah. Thanks,

By,

M Anem,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(October 2024).