Agriculture Minister Mohamad Sabu says official data on flood-affected farmers is needed before disaster funds can be disbursed, with assessments pending as waters recede.
SERDANG: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is awaiting official data on the number of farmers affected by recent floods before disbursing aid through its disaster funds.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the funds are activated based on the scale of impact during each disaster season, not on a one-off basis.
“Floods have just occurred, and waters have only recently receded in Kedah,” he told reporters after an event here today.
He expects to receive the actual figures in the coming days, after which the disaster fund will be channelled to eligible farmers.
The ministry’s teams can only conduct damage assessments once floodwaters have fully subsided.
Post-disaster assistance is available under the Padi Crop Disaster Fund for rice farmers and the Agricultural Disaster Fund for agri-food operators.
Mohamad said on Monday that RM25 million has been allocated under the Agricultural Disaster Fund this year to aid victims of disasters such as floods and drought.
