Over 100,000 travel permits to ensure enough food supply
Mafi has issued over 100,000 travel permits to fishermen, farmers and livestock breeders throughout the Movement Control Order and Phase One of the National Recovery Plan .
PUTATAN: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (Mafi) has issued over 100,000 travel permits to fishermen, farmers and livestock breeders throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO) and Phase One of the National Recovery Plan .
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said the move was to ensure there is sufficient food supply for the people and those given the approval to travel nationwide, should adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“The approval issued by Mafi is for those categorised under the informal sector which is different from the travel permit issued by Miti (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) for the agrofood industry sector.
“The informal sector involves fishermen, farmers and breeders and it is important to allow them to travel so that our food supply is not disrupted during the pandemic and movement control,” he told reporters after presenting food basket aid to 100 fishermen at Kampung Pasir Putih fishermen’s market here on Sunday.
To ensure the continuity of the fisheries chain as well as those involved, Dr Ronald said the sector has been classified as essential service and allowed to operate at all times.
The sector’s operation is subjected to compliance of the SOP set by the National Security Council, he said.
Dr Ronald stressed that any restrictions on the operation of the fisheries sector can affect the country’s food security and will increase import dependence.
“This situation will also affect the economic resources of local fishermen and the entire fisheries chain which involves the fishing industry, aquaculture, processing and trade activities,” he said.
The minister toured the market which started operating in 2013 and is one of the active fishermen’s markets in Sabah with 20 to 35 fishing boats landing and selling their catch here.
According to Dr Ronald, although the fisheries sector is facing various challenges at the moment, the fish supply is sufficient and stable to meet the country’s needs where the average monthly fish supply for this year is expected to remain stable at 169,000 tonnes compared to the national requirement of 125,000 tonnes per month.
He disclosed that fish landings from January to June 2021 throughout the state alone were recorded at 107,000 metric tons with a value of RM643 million.
Meanwhile fish landings at the Kampung Pasir Putih fishermen’s market from January to June 2021 was 7,000 metric tons with a value of RM35,000.
LKIM, he said, has allocated RM450,000 this year to upgrade the fisherman’s market which was proposed to be a one stop center to carry out marketing, fish landing and agro-tourism activities as it is a very strategic location and has the potential to be developed for the benefit of fishermen and the local community.
The government through LKIM, he said, has so far allocated RM4.32 million to Sabah to repair fishermen’s houses under the Fishermen Housing Special Project, upgrading fishermen’s markets, constructing fish collection and distribution centers as well as building and repairing of fishermen’s jetties.
The government, also through LKIM had allocated RM2.18 million under the State Fishermen Association (PNN) special fund and the Area Fishermen Association (PNK) special fund, both are initiatives under Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus package.
After the walkabout, Dr Ronald handed over food baskets to 100 members of PNK Kota Kinabalu.
The food aid is part of the ministry’s Prihatin contribution and was done through LKIM together with PNK to reduce the burden of fishermen affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The welfare of all target groups including fishermen as well as food supply chain security is a priority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, he said, adding that the National Department of Fisheries and LKIM will continue to play a role in improving the socio-economic position of fishermen, developing the country’s fisheries industry and ensuring adequate fish supply in the country at all times.
Also present during the walkabout were LKIM Sabah director Turut Sundralingam A/L and PNK Kota Kinabalu chairman Datuk Arsit Sedi.