PENGERANG: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has given its assurance that there will be enough vegetables in Johor for Ramadan despite the recent floods that hit the state.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu (pic) said the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) had brought in supplies from other states to meet local demand.
“Fama has also compiled a post-flood report in Tangkak, Segamat, Batu Pahat and Kota Tinggi, where (vegetable) production has dropped by about 30%.
“But as the situation has improved, these farmers have started planting again, and Fama has also brought in supplies from Negri Sembilan, Cameron Highlands in Pahang, and the Selayang wholesale market in Selangor,” he said here on Wednesday (March 15).
Speaking to the media after a licence and aid handover ceremony to fishermen at the Malaysian Fisheries Development Board Pengerang complex here, he said the state government had also introduced Bazar Rakyat Agro Johor in 35 locations in February.
“The programme is a collaboration involving Fama, the Fisheries board and the private sector, and offers daily necessities at a discounted price.
“It will run during the month of Ramadan and continue until June,” he added.
Mohamad said the ministry was also assessing the damage caused by the recent flood with other agencies and ministries such as the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), Health Ministry, and Rural and Regional Development Ministry.
“The assessment is expected to take about a month, and after that, we will look into ways of helping those affected based on our allocations,” he added.
Mohamad also announced that the ministry had allocated RM29mil to develop a groyne (shore protection structure) project at the Pengerang complex that is expected to be completed next year.
Source: The Star
