Jamawi Urges Farmers and Fishermen to Stay Vigilant during the dry weather

5 April 2026

TENOM: The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Jamawi Jaafar, has urged all parties, particularly farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen, to heighten their preparedness in light of the El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to persist until July.

He said reports from the Sabah Meteorological Department indicate that the hot and dry conditions caused by the phenomenon could have a significant impact on the state’s agriculture and food industry sectors.

“In these hot weather conditions, I urge the agricultural community, livestock breeders, fishermen and food industry players to exercise greater caution."

“Avoid open burning and refrain from clearing new land for the time being, as the risk of fires and declining yields is high,” he said when met by the media during a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house he hosted with his wife at the Dewan Datuk Seri Panglima Antanom here recently.

Jamawi assured that his ministry remains ready to assist those affected throughout the El Niño period.

He said farmers and food industry operators facing difficulties can liaise directly with district-level agricultural officers for assistance and advice.

“If matters need to be escalated to the ministry, I am personally prepared to review their needs to ensure their welfare and livelihoods continue to be safeguarded,” he said.

Elaborating further, Jamawi noted that the weather phenomenon is also expected to affect fertiliser supply, leading to higher production costs.

He explained that a significant portion of the country’s fertiliser supply depends on imports, including from China and other countries affected by global conflicts.

“When exports of key fertiliser components such as urea are reduced, it will result in price increases in the local market,” he said.

In this regard, he encouraged farmers to adopt organic fertilisers as an alternative to help reduce costs.

He added that the Sabah Agriculture Department has implemented various training programmes to assist farmers in producing their own fertiliser using plant and food waste.

“I will continue to go on the ground and provide education to farmers, including through a special programme with entrepreneurs on 12 April in Karambunai."

“This is important to ensure that crop yields remain stable despite the challenges posed by extreme weather,” he said.