MOHAMED BASYIR New Straits Times 15 Nov 17;
KEPALA BATAS: The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry has approved more than RM10 million in aid for farmers, breeders and fishermen in the state affected by the major floods of Nov 4.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Shabery Cheek said that the floods impacted almost 5,700 farmers and that the aid will compensate them for their losses.
He added that the ministry has initiated a standard operating procedure (SOP) for 'Bencana Sektor Agromakanan' which will evaluate losses incurred from natural disasters and ensure that food supplies are unaffected.
"Some 460 vegetable and fruit farmers suffered losses involving an area of 600 hectares.
"(In) the rice sector, over 10,900 hectares of rice fields were affected, involving 4,800 farmers," he told newsmen here on Wednesday.
Shabery said that the ministry has allocated RM9.7 million for paddy replantation; while for the fisheries sector, the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) has allocated RM500,000 for 110 fishermen whose houses and items used for fishing activities were destroyed.
"LKIM will conduct an evaluation of the damages and provide assistance and aid to the fishermen using the Fishermen's Welfare and Natural Disaster Fund,” he said, adding that 3,500 cages and ponds operated by 160 aquaculture entrepreneurs were destroyed in the deluge.
Shabery said that the Fisheries Department will also conduct an evaluation on losses incurred before the RM500,000 in aid is disbursed early next year.
“About 90 breeders who were affected by the floods will also be given aid and food supplies for livestock, costing over RM50,000,” he added.
Monsoon Season Aid helps smallholders, rubber tappers endure 3-month wet spell
New Straits Times 15 Nov 17;
KUALA LUMPUR: The Monsoon Season Aid has helped many smallholders and rubber tappers to pull through difficult times, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Wednesday.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur said 264,352 smallholders and rubber tappers have started to receive the much-needed relief in the form of a RM200 monthly aid which will be handed out in November, December and January.
The three-month period is related to the northeast monsoon season, known in Malay as musim tengkujuh.
The period will bring heavy rain and can lead to flash floods in many areas, severely affecting the income of rubber smallholders and tappers.
"A total of 499,802 smallholders and rubber tappers have registered for the assistance, including 235,450 applications which are still being processed.
The aid application can be made online via http://bmt.lgm.gov.my.
"The registration is carried out via online applications and through the village head or chairman of the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK)," he said in reply to Budiman Mohd Zohdi (BN-Sungai Besar), who inquired on the number of eligible smallholders and rubber tappers who are to receive the Rainy Season Assistance.
Datu Nasrun added that the government has no immediate plans to provide or introduce other forms of assistance to smallholders and rubber tappers during the monsoon season.
The Monsoon Season Aid, a first-of-its-kind measure, was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during the 2017 Budget speech with a total allocation of RM261 million from the federal government.
The aid application can be made online via http://bmt.lgm.gov.my.
Rubber smallholders and tappers can also visit the nearest Malaysian Rubber Board office to obtain the forms for manual application method.
Reports by ARFA YUNUS, BEATRICE NITA JAY and FERNANDO FONG
