KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) has been advised to prepare Cabinet Memoranda to keep the Cabinet informed of the current food security situation until the El Niño phenomenon concludes.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said this measure is crucial due to the threats posed by climate change and weather disruptions, which could impact the nation's food production and supply.
“The food security agenda is no longer merely an agricultural sector issue, it has become a matter of national security. The uncertain global geopolitical landscape, extreme climate change phenomena, and global supply chain volatility compel us to act more swiftly, decisively, and holistically,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Fadillah noted that this matter was discussed while he chaired the Meeting of the Executive Committee on National Food Security Policy (No. 2 of 2026) at the Parliament and Administration Building this morning.
Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said that El Niño and climate change could disrupt the food supply chain through adverse weather, thereby reducing production and triggering local supply shortages.
In this regard, he said the government is implementing several preparatory measures, including integrated water resource management, to ensure sustainable water usage across various sectors.
“The government is also expanding the use of Smart Irrigation Monitoring Systems and Drip Irrigation Systems (TITIS) to prevent wastage and channel water according to the land's actual needs,” he said.
He stated that alternative and sustainable water management methods are being applied to rice production systems to optimise water-use efficiency at farm-level, alongside the promotion of Controlled Environment Agriculture, which includes the use of closed-house poultry farming systems.
Fadillah also urged all agencies involved in water infrastructure construction to ensure that every project is completed on schedule or ahead of schedule to prevent delays and avoid projects being classified as "sick" (stalled or problematic) projects.
-- BERNAMA