Over to you: Mohamad (centre, in light blue) with Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (in dark blue) and fishermen at the LKIM jetty.
PENGERANG: There will be enough vegetables in Johor during Ramadan despite the recent floods in the state, says Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
He said the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) had already brought in supplies from other states to meet local demand.
“Fama has also conducted a post-flood report in Tangkak, Segamat, Batu Pahat and Kota Tinggi, where generally their production has dropped about 30%.
“But as the situation has improved, these farmers have started planting again, and Fama has also brought in supplies from Negri Sembilan and Cameron Highlands in Pahang,” he told reporters at the Malaysian Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) Pengerang complex yesterday.
Mohamad was attending a ceremony to hand over licences and aid to local fishermen here.
He also said that the Johor government has introduced the Bazar Rakyat Agro Johor (BRAJ) in 35 locations across the state, which started in February this year.
“The programme is a collaborative effort between Fama, LKIM and the private sector. It offers daily necessities at a discounted price and will also run during the month of Ramadan until June,” he added.
Mohamad said his ministry was also working with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), the Health Ministry and the Rural and Regional Development Ministry to assess the damage from the recent floods.
“The assessment is expected to take about a month, and after that, we will look into how we can help based on the allocation that we have,” he said.
During yesterday’s event, Mohamad said the ministry has allocated RM29mil for a groyne (shore protection structure) project at the LKIM Pengerang complex, which is expected to be completed next year.
“The project will start this year, and it is important to ensure that the jetty is protected from sediment or sand erosion. We hope this will help ease the local fishermen’s day-to-day work,” he said.
Mohamad also handed over the Sara Hidup Nelayan Allowance (ESHN) payment to 408 fishermen in Pengerang worth RM122,400, 47 boat licences to Category A (shoreline) fishermen and life jackets to 465 fishermen.
