Ministry ready to face hot, dry spell – Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA) is prepared for the possible hot and dry season that could be harmful to the country’s agricultural sector.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the ministry would hold discussions with the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) on the matter.

“We will be ready at the ministerial level and discuss with the DID because the matter involves management of the drainage system,” he told reporters after chairing the Joint Annual Meeting of the State Agriculture Executive Committees here yesterday.

A prolonged hot and dry weather is expected to hit the country towards the end of May.

In another development, Ismail Sabri said all the state governments had agreed to provide additional land for the development of permanent cultivation of crops.

He said the additional land allocated was not only for cultivating fruits but also to breed livestock, fish and so on.

“The main focus of the ministry this year is the increase in production of agricultural products and we have set the KPI (key performance indicators) for each department, such as the Department of Agriculture must increase production by 10 per cent compared with last year’s,” he said.

Commenting on the meeting, he said the main focus this year was for the state governments to submit proposals for the provision of agricultural development projects under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) in their respective states before the closing date on March 31. – Bernama