Malaysian Government Discusses Preparation To Ensure Adequate Food Supplies To Face El Nino

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), July 1 (Bernama) -- The meeting on the National Committee to Address the El Nino Phenomenon on Monday discussed the Malaysian government's preparation to ensure food supplies, involving the crop cultivation, livestock and fisheries sectors, are adequate following the El Nino phenomenon. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said various short, medium and long-term measures would be implemented such as ensuring efficient irrigation management, increasing plantation management efficiency and developing drought resistant and quick matured crop species. He said measures to develop crop model for localities, diversify fishermen's income, implement awareness campaign and develop El Nino forecasting simulation were also discussed. "As an alternative measure, imported food supplies will be increased should there be a serious drop in production," he said in a statement here Monday. Muhyiddin said farmers, livestock breeders and entrepreneurs would be given assistance through the Agrofood Disaster Aid Fund (Tabung Bantuan Bencana Agromakanan) if there was still diminishing food production after these measures were introduced. The fund, he said, was aimed at restoring the agricultural sector to ensure food supplies were adequate. The deputy prime minister said even though the phenomenon was expected only on a weak or moderate category, the government was definitely making detailed preparation to reduce the negative impact on the people and country. "The national committee also makes improvements from time to time if the El Nino intensity becomes stronger," he said. To safeguard the El Nino impact on the environment and public health, Muhyiddin said the government via the National Security Council would mobilise a task force comprising officers from various givernment agencies, including Health Ministry, Education Ministry, Meteorological Department, Environment Department as well as Fire and Rescue Department. "It will monitor and take action to curb open fires and peat fires, conduct cloud seeding operation to raise the level of raw water in rivers and dams besides reducing the haze pollutant level," he said. On water supply, he said, the federal government through the Irrigation and Drainage Department and National Water Services Commission would cooperate with the state government to monitor closely the level at rivers and dams. He said the water supply contingency plan would be activate if the river and dam levels deteroriated to a critical stage. "Among others, it involves the redistribution of water supply from the water supply system that is not affected to areas that are affected. "Logistic requirements such as lorry tanks and static tanks will be provided to distribute water to areas with water supply interuption while water rations will be implemented when needed," he said. The committee also decided that information related to El Nino was constantly updated and disseminated to the people. Muhyiddin said several measures were also recommended to the people to reduce the El Nino impact, which included keeping the surrounding environment clean, protecting one's health especially during the haze and dry season as well as adhering to the government's directives. --BERNAMA