Agriculture sector suffers RM299mil loss due to floods

BERA: Malaysia’s agriculture and agro-based industry suffered a loss of RM299mil due to the recent floods in several states.

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said RM194mil was lost due to damage to agriculture produce, RM99.5mil due to infrastructure damage and RM5.5mil due to damage to assets.

“In Pahang alone, the losses amounted to RM68.28mil. Of this, RM54.4mil was losses to agriculture produce, RM790,000 asset damage and RM13.04mil infrastructure damage.

“At the same time, 15,403 farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen were affected by the floods, involving 16,342 hectares of agriculture land,” he told reporters after presenting financial aid to 937 families affected by floods in the Bera district here yesterday.

Ismail Sabri, who is also Bera MP, said Kelantan recorded the highest number of livestock breeders, fishermen and farmers who were affected by the floods, numbering 7,119, while Pahang had 4,972, Terengganu 1,694 and Perak 1,617.

He said the government, through the National Security Council (MKN), would provide compensation to the three groups of people whose agriculture produce were affected by the recent floods.

He added that the rate of payment would be RM1,800 a hectare for padi (with a maximum payment for three hectares only), RM700 per buffalo (maximum 10 buffaloes), RM600 for each head of cattle and deer (maximum 10 for both), RM150 per goat (maximum 20), RM5 per chicken (maximum 100) and RM2 per quail (maximum 200).

“Payment for the aquaculture industry will be RM1,500 per pond (maximum two ponds) and caged fish rearing at RM200 per section (maximum 12 sections),” he said. — Bernama