Sabah ministry deploys officers to assess flood damage, immediate aid for farmers, breeders and fishermen

TENOM (Feb 26): The Sabah Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (Maffi) has directed all officers under its agencies to be deployed to flood-affected areas across the state to assess damage to the agricultural sector and coordinate immediate assistance for affected farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen.

The affected districts include Tenom, Nabawan, Sook, Tongod, Sipitang, Beaufort and Pitas. Officers have been tasked with conducting on-the-ground monitoring, evaluating losses to crops, livestock and agricultural infrastructure, and facilitating rapid recovery efforts.

Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said the ground engagement approach was crucial to ensure that damage data is collected accurately and comprehensively.

“This approach allows us to obtain precise information on crop, livestock and infrastructure damage, enabling aid distribution and recovery measures to be implemented more quickly and effectively,” he said.

Jamawi, who is also Melalap assemblyman, was speaking after visiting temporary evacuation centres at Dewan Seri Panglima Antanom and Dewan SJKC Chung Hwa to assess the condition of flood victims.

He said the visits also provided an opportunity to engage directly with affected families and better understand their immediate needs.

He added that the ministry is working closely with relevant district-level agencies to ensure the swift delivery of assistance, including animal feed supplies, crop seeds and technical support, to all affected areas.

“This assistance covers districts along the West Coast and in the Interior that have been impacted by unpredictable weather conditions,” he said.

Jamawi stressed the importance of continuous monitoring of agricultural areas to detect damage early, allowing district agricultural offices to provide targeted aid and prevent more severe losses in production.

He also advised agricultural operators to comply with official directives and observe safety measures throughout the monsoon season.

Farmers, breeders and fishermen were urged to report any damage or flood threats to their respective district agricultural offices to enable immediate follow-up action.

“The state government remains committed to restoring the agricultural sector in flood-affected areas so that farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen can resume operations as soon as possible,” he said.

He added that these efforts are expected to help reduce the economic impact on rural communities that depend heavily on agriculture and fisheries.

“Finally, cooperation between the ministry, related agencies and local communities is key in facing this monsoon season.

“All parties must remain prepared and alert to early warnings to ensure the safety of lives and the economic sustainability of rural communities,” he said.