TENOM: August 13, 2026 – The Sabah Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (MAFFI) has set up a special task force to deal with the El Nino phenomenon, which is expected to bring prolonged hot weather from September until February next year.
Its minister, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, said guidelines have been provided to farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen and crop growers to take precautionary measures throughout that period.
“Do not conduct open burning and do not open new agricultural areas. In areas with water catchment facilities, create holding ponds as water reserves for future use,” he said after officiating the Merdeka Jalur Gemilang Convoy programme at the Tenom Agriculture Office today.
Dairy cattle farmers, goat breeders and fishermen are also urged to prepare. Animal pen designs should have proper ventilation and comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the ministry. Jamawi said he would share the SOPs with the Fisheries Department for wider dissemination.
In addition, MAFFI is strengthening the development of the agricultural industry in the interior areas as agriculture-based industrial zones.
Beaufort already has a latex processing plant producing pillows, while Tenom has an avocado processing plant and four coffee factories. The government has allocated RM600,000 to build a coffee drying centre in Tenom.
Keningau has been proposed as a hub for dairy and beef processing, with collaboration with Farm Fresh Sdn Bhd to set up the plant. Tambunan, meanwhile, will be developed with a ginger-based processing facility.
Jamawi explained that downstream industrial development is crucial to process raw agricultural produce into higher-value products, thereby increasing commodity prices and farmers’ incomes.
“When it becomes a downstream product, it will raise commodity prices. When commodity prices go up, our farmers will benefit,” he said.
On the avocado plant in Kampung Bunut, he said the building has been completed and is currently being fitted with machinery and equipment at an estimated cost of RM2 million. Grade A and B fruits will be exported, while Grade C fruit will be processed into downstream products.
