KOTA KINABALU: As much as 7,700 hectares
of plantations have been ruined as a result of the drought early this
year, said Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Food
Industries, Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin yesterday.
He estimated that the damages caused 2,371 farmers to lose RM5.5
million. He said this during the question and answer session in
response to a question from Lumadan assemblyman, Kamarlin Haji Ombi. The
plantations affected were located within the Nabawan/Pensiangan, Lahad
Datu, Kinabatangan, Tenom, Semporna, Beaufort and Pitas districts and
were mostly fruit plantations (5,000 hectares), hill rice (2,200
hectares) and rice (500 hectares).
He added that the
ministry would aid the farmers by providing planting materials to
farmers that have lost their crops due to the drought caused by the
El-Nino phenomenon since June 2009. The aid will be given to farmers that have been approved by the ministry when they are rebuilding their land.
Meanwhile, Hussin said that RM50,000 has been appropriated to the agriculture office in Kunak for the restoration of the workers’ quarters there. However,
the Agriculture Department would not be adding any vehicles to the
Kunak district office until sufficient vehicles have been obtained by
the department.
He said this in response to Kunak assemblyman, Datuk Nilwan Kabang’s question.
Source New Sabah Times April 20, 2010
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