BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) has taken proactive steps to safeguard the nation's food supply by establishing a special committee two months ago to prepare for the possible impact of El Nino.
Its chairman, Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus, said the move reflected Fama's early action to prepare for the phenomenon, including plans to procure and store agro-food products at Fama warehouses nationwide.
"At Fama, we established a committee two months ago. Although El Niño is an annual phenomenon, we took proactive measures this year instead of waiting for it to occur.
"By taking early action and coordinating with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) on when the phenomenon is expected to begin, we were able to make early preparations this year," he told reporters here Saturday (Sept 26).
He said this when met at the Penang 2026 JAM Mega programme at Lotus's Seberang Jaya, which was officiated by Penang State Rural Development, Agrotechnology, Food Security and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Datuk Rashidi Zinol.
Previously, MetMalaysia director-general Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip was reported as saying that there was more than a 90% probability of El Niño reaching the "very strong" or "Super El Nino" category between October and December.
Abang Ahmad Kerdee said Fama also planned to purchase selected agro-food products and keep them in its warehouses as buffer stocks against potential supply disruptions, including those caused by import and export issues.
He said Fama had warehouses in every state, including cold storage facilities, which would be fully utilised to ensure sufficient food supplies.
"The stocks include around 34 types of agro-food products, including red chillies, green chillies, cabbage and onions, as well as other food products such as chicken and beef.
"Should there be any issues, such as difficulties in securing imports or exports, we have a backup plan to ensure that there is sufficient supply of these products for several months," he said.
Abang Ahmad Kerdee said the approach drew on the country's experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, when early planning and adequate food stocks helped maintain continuity in food supplies. - Bernama
