Kota Kinabalu: The ongoing prolonged dry spell, exacerbated by the El-Nino phenomenon, is posing significant challenges to food production in Sabah.
Deputy Chief Minister I cum Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the scarcity of rainfall and rising temperatures have led to reduced river water levels by between 10pc and 40pc of their normal levels, impacting agricultural, livestock and aquaculture activities as well as rubber production.
“I have requested reports from the various departments and agencies under my Ministry to assess the situation and the measures being implemented to mitigate the adverse effects,” he said in a statement, Wednesday.
According to Jeffrey, a comprehensive assessment, gathered from various departments and agencies under his Ministry indicates that the dry weather has significantly affected the agricultural sector in multiple ways.
These include reduced water levels for irrigation, hindered crop growth due to decreased rainfall and the potential risk of decreased livestock productivity due to feed scarcity, he said.
“The situation is serious and warrants immediate and sustained attention. The Ministry is actively implementing measures to mitigate the adverse effects and ensure the resilience of our food security production systems,” he said.
Jeffrey said the findings by the Sabah Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) showed most rivers in Sabah have experienced a decrease in water levels, significantly affecting the supply of irrigation water.
“Critical areas include Kota Belud, Keningau, Membakut, Tambunan and Kota Marudu.
“Notable reductions in water levels have been reported in several irrigation schemes, with measures like water rationing being implemented to manage the scarce resources.
“Specific figures include Kota Marudu’s Timbang Batu Scheme, with ongoing decreases in river water levels, while Membakut’s Irrigation Scheme, where river water levels have dropped by two metres from the normal level, complicating irrigation efforts. Beaufort’s Sg Padas water level is now at 2.58m, significantly lower than the normal level of 4.5m.”
Jeffrey said the Sabah Agriculture Department’s findings showed the El-Nino phenomenon has led to reduced rainfall (around 80mm in January and February 2024), adversely affecting crop agronomy and soil management.
Notably, vegetative growth, flowering and fruit setting are hindered, potentially decreasing long-term yields.
Increased temperatures have accelerated soil water evaporation, leading to drier soils, reduced soil moisture and hampered root penetration, which affects nutrient and water absorption, he said, adding in areas like K1 for rice planting, crop growth has been stunted due to water shortages, impacting feed availability for livestock.
Jeffrey said the Sabah Fisheries Department noted that despite the dry conditions, most fish farming operations have not yet reported significant impacts, thanks to early advisories and reduced stocking rates.
However, he said continued dry conditions could lead to water shortages in aquaculture stations and affect freshwater fish populations.
“There have been no reported fish deaths or significant losses within the ‘tagal’ committees to date. However, if the dry weather persists, the situation could become more severe, potentially leading to fish mortalities,” he added.
He said the Rural Development Cooperative (KPD) reported challenges in both crop and livestock production, with increased mortality rates in chick transport not exceeding 5pc and the need for additional irrigation efforts to sustain crop health.
The Sabah Rubber Industry Board’s (LIGS) findings showed that due to dry conditions, there has been a halt in new rubber plantings, a slowdown in fertilisation activities, and reduced tapping in extremely dry plantation areas to mitigate the risk of tree mortality.
“For the MD2 pineapple planting at the Projek Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat in Kg Gana, Kota Marudu, a total of 1.7 million pineapple slips have been planted.
This area has received some rain and has not been as severely affected by the dry conditions, allowing the pineapple cultivation to proceed without significant hindrance,” he explained.
Jeffrey said various proactive measures are being taken across all departments and agencies to address the challenges posed by the dry weather, including irrigation management, which involves the implementation of water rationing and the deployment of mobile pumps to ensure irrigation water supply and agricultural practices by advising on reduced stocking rates, postponement of certain farming activities and the use of drought-resistant crop varieties where possible.
Also, aquaculture adaptations which encourage aquaculture operators to reduce stocking densities and halt operations, if necessary, to minimise losses, livestock management which suggests strategies to mitigate heat stress and feed scarcity for livestock, and rubber industry adjustments involving temporary suspension of certain activities and emphasis on the maintenance of existing plantations to ensure plant health.
