JULY-AUGUST. 2026 | @ AGROBiz

• Sabah is preparing its agriculture and fisheries sectors for prolonged hot weather expected from September to February.

• Precautionary measures include creating water reserves, improving ventilation in animal pens, and avoiding open burning.

• New and upgraded facilities in Tenom, Beaufort, Keningau and Tambunan aim to raise commodity value and farmers’ incomes.

Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said precautionary guidelines had been issued to farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen and crop growers to minimise the impact of the anticipated conditions.

He urged those in the sector to avoid open burning and the opening of new agricultural areas, while creating holding ponds in areas with water catchment facilities to secure reserves for future use.

“ 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,” Jamawi said after officiating the Merdeka Jalur Gemilang Convoy programme at the Tenom Agriculture Office.

Dairy cattle farmers and goat breeders were also advised to ensure animal pens have adequate ventilation and comply with ministry-issued standard operating procedures( SOPs).

Jamawi said the SOPs would also be shared with the Fisheries Department for wider dissemination.

Meanwhile, the ministry is pursuing

CLIMATE PREPAREDNESS: Datuk Jamawi Jaafar outlines precautionary measures for farmers and livestock breeders as Sabah prepares for prolonged hot weather from September.

“ When it becomes a downstream product, it will raise commodity prices. When commodity prices go up, our farmers will benefit.” tified for different processing activities.

Tenom has an avocado processing plant and four coffee factories, while RM600,000 has been allocated for a coffee drying centre. An avocado processing facility in Kampung Bunut, costing about RM2 million, is being fitted with machinery and equipment.

Jamawi said downstream processing would increase the value of agricultural commodities 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.

AGRICULTURE COOPERATION: Datuk Jamawi Jaafar at the engagement session aimed at strengthening Statefederal cooperation for farmers and rural communities.

SABAH and federal agriculture agencies have agreed to strengthen cooperation by sharing expertise, facilities and resources to support the State’ s agriculture, fisheries, livestock and agri-food sectors.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi

Jaafar said closer coordination was necessary to ensure farmers, fishermen, livestock breeders, agripreneurs and rural communities could benefit fully from the resources available across both levels of government.

He said the collaboration was downstream agricultural development in Sabah’ s interior, with Beaufort, Tenom, Keningau and Tambunan idennot intended to create competition between agencies, but to ensure they complemented each other by better leveraging their respective capabilities.

“ We are not here to compete but to complement one another. Some facilities may not be available within state departments or agencies but are provided by federal agencies, and vice versa,” he said.

Jamawi was speaking to reporters after the meet-and-greet programme with the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and its departments and agencies.

He said the engagement led to agreement among state and federal departments and agencies to strengthen collaboration and maximise the use of their combined expertise, facilities, and resources.

Among the facilities that could be shared are laboratories for analysing the nutritional content of agricultural and fisheries products, as well as training facilities for processing fruits into juice and dried products.

Fish-processing expertise and facilities could also support the production of value-added products such as nuggets, fish balls and fish cakes.

Jamawi added that agricultural and fisheries products could be submitted to relevant laboratories for nutritional analysis before marketing, including verification of carbohydrate, sucrose, and other nutrient contents.- @ AGROBiz