IMPACT OF FLOOD IN MALAYASIA 2023!

Malaysia agriculture and agro-food sector suffered about RM111.95 million in losses following the recent monsoon season early 2023. Agriculture and Food Security Ministry spokesman said the damages covered 24,500ha of land involving some 12,000 farmers and breeders nationwide. Ministry was informed that the recent flood was among the worst in the history after 2014 and many farmers and breeders have suffered huge losses. A total of 350 ministry staff were also affected and despite that, some of them have continued their duty as usual. To help the people, the ministry of agriculture has provided various types of assistance via its so called 'Prihatin programmes' and this includes 'ready to cook and ready to eat' kits. Among the aids to staff of various agencies under the ministry affected by the recent flood are given. More than 10,000 kits worth about RM1 million were provided for the purpose. Currently the government would ensure sufficient food supplies in the country. So far the government did not face any problem in the food supply after the monsoon season. For the shortage of eggs is almost recovered when we started importing it recently while the price of chicken is also back to normal. Reported about RM222,400 worth of padi crops across 34ha of farmland were destroyed due to the recent watershed and landslide incidents which wrecked havoc in Yan, Kedah (See picture above). The Muda Agriculture Development Authority (MADA) MADA said this was based on initial investigations and the estimation of losses so far on MADA areas affected by the disaster. All padi affected planting fields in Yan district are under MADA. Checks revealed the affected padi fields were in Kampung Rendang Pasir and Kampung Titi Bakong, Yan. Most of the damaged crop were in their final stages of farming as there were only 20 days left for the harvest. MADA believe the losses incurred would not affect the country's rice production and supplies because only 0.3 per cent out of the total padi fields under our supervision were affected. MADA are still conducting further investigations as it will take a week to see how many padi crops were destroyed due to the landslide. In certain conditions in which padi crops could survive even after it is submerged in water. It all depends on the crops. MADA will only find out if we would be shouldering more loss or less, after a week. Nowadays an area of 100,658ha of padi fields in Kedah and Perlis come under MADA. The authority had also identified 20 padi farmers residing in the district who were affected by the landslide. Currently MADA are looking to submit applications to the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry (MAFI) for the farmers to get compensation under its Disaster Relief fund. A rainforest watershed incident had occurred in Gunung Jerai on Wednesday which caused floods affecting about 1,000 houses in Yan and Kuala Muda, Kedah, a state known as Malaysia's 'rice bowl'. The disaster has so far claimed the lives of five victims while one other person reports remains missing. 

In other report 'Farmers incur RM5.4 million in losses due to floods' for pineapple production sector. Reported that more than 2,000 pineapple and padi farmers have incurred losses of about RM5.4 million after their crops were destroyed by floods in early 2023. Report from Kuantan, Pahang said that more than 2,000 pineapple and padi farmers have incurred losses of about RM5.4 million after their crops were destroyed by floods at the end of last year. Among those affected were 54 farmers who worked on pineapple farms covering an area of 42.8ha in Kampung Cenderawasih, Sungai Miang and 2,278 padi farmers in six schemes covering an area of 4,918ha. Pahang Agricultural Department said the flood disaster that happened between Dec 15 to 27 last year and early 2023 led had to the devastating destruction of the crops. The six padi schemes under the supervision of the Pekan Integrated Agriculture Development (IADA) that were destroyed were Skim Serandu, Skim Pulau Jawa-Pulau Tambun, Skim Mambang, Skim Pahang Tua-Langgar, Skim Gangchong and Skim Merchong. The flood due to the continuous rain factor from November to December last year let to the floods in the area which reached a height of 1meter. The floods disaster that happened at the end of last year caused many farmers to miss out on harvesting, as after three days of floods the Padi was as good as destroyed. Department of Agriculture made to understand that farmers have changed their second season Padi planting schedule to avoid the flood but the opposite happened, when rains began in November and not as usual. The farmers whose fields were inundated by floods have the opportunity to receive the Tabung Bencana Tanaman Padi (TBTP) aid from the government between RM876 up to RM1,800 per hectare with a maximum of only three hectares. For pineapple farmers in which they were eligible to receive aid under the Agro-food Project Revival Programme (PPSPA) of up to RM45,000, based on the expense of the prject with a maximum of only 3ha. Upon approval, the funds would be deposited into the farmers' accounts to help restart their respective projects.  Farmers and growers whose crops were destroyed also have the opportunity to receive aid of agricultural input and plowing work from the agricultural department and IADA. 

Report from Jertih, Terengganu said that 'Cattle breeder has lost 151 livestock due to the floods' among the impact. The animals were washed away by overflowing water from Sungai Keluang, Terengganu and leaving Hashim Abdul Latiff (65) with RM600,000 in losses (See picture above). He from the Kampung Tembila said he had more than 200 cattle including calves and only 14 made it out alive as they got caught among nipah trees and have since been moved to higher ground by boat. He said the floods were the worst he had experienced, with floodwaters rising up to 3m and the current was very fast. He said that in the past, floodwaters only rose to half a metre. He said his cattle pens were completely flooded. Some of the cattle I lost cost more than RM10,000 each. Hashim took up cattle breeding 12 years ago with 15 cattle and he also cultivates watermelon and sweet potato. Chicken breeder Mohd Fahmi Mohd Nasir (34) said he lost more that 1,000 chickens valued at almost RM13,000 in Kampung Pengkalan Sentul nearby due to floods. He said the chickens in which was kept in two coops, drowned when floodwaters rose to 1meter. The chickens were 30 to 40 days old and were ready for the market. Besut district Veterinary Services Department officer said the department had received 250 reports up to yesterday from poultry and livestock breeders on animals affected by floods. Thanks.

By,

M Anem,

Putrajaya,

malaysia.

(Febuary 2023).