Seremban: The impact of the El Nino phenomenon on commodity crop yields, particularly palm oil, typically becomes evident several months after the onset of prolonged hot weather and decreased rainfall. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad stated that the ministry, along with relevant agencies, is vigilantly monitoring field operations and production trends to evaluate the effects of current weather patterns on the commodities sector.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Noraini highlighted that El Nino could have significant implications for commodity crops if the heat and dry conditions persist. She affirmed that their primary focus is on assisting smallholders in preparing for and mitigating potential negative impacts on their crops and income. This was conveyed during her interaction with reporters at the Negeri Sembilan Salam Agrikomoditi Programme, which was officiated by Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim.
Recently, Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, director-general of the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), indicated that the likelihood of the El Nino phenomenon escalating to a very strong category, known as Super El Nino, between October and December is now over 90 percent.
Noraini further emphasized that the ministry is committed to enhancing ground-level outreach initiatives to ensure smallholders are informed about government assistance and guidance aimed at improving productivity, income, and value-added agri-commodity outputs. She pointed out the importance of this approach as many in the community are still unaware of the available government aid, training programs, and application procedures.
The event also provided a platform for the ministry to bring government services and opportunities closer to the public, facilitating direct engagement with the community to understand their needs better.
In a related development, Ismail stressed the necessity for Negeri Sembilan to bolster downstream activities like processing, packaging, branding, and distribution to create more local economic value beyond just raw material production. He proposed the expansion of cluster-based farming models among growers and entrepreneurs to optimize resource sharing and marketing strategies.
Furthermore, he advocated for the broader adoption of suitable technologies, including mechanization, to reduce costs, enhance yields, lessen dependency on manual labor, and simplify daily operations for smallholders. Ismail also encouraged the youth to view the agri-commodity sector as a promising field, assuring continuous government support and assistance for agri-commodity entrepreneurs.