THE government is stepping up preparations to face the potential impact of the El Nino phenomenon as it seeks to safeguard Malaysia’s food security.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the measures include more strategic management of water resources, the implementation of smart irrigation monitoring systems and the strengthening of irrigation infrastructure through drainage upgrade projects.
He said developing rice varieties that can withstand changing weather conditions and environmental challenges remains one of the key priorities in ongoing research efforts.
"The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) has produced several new rice varieties with drought-resistant characteristics.
"During the recent Food Security Council meeting, the Prime Minister also instructed MARDI to further enhance research and development efforts to produce more new rice varieties that are suited to current needs," Mat Sabu, as he is more popularly known, said in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.
The minister was responding to a question from Tangga Batu MP Bakri Jamaluddin on the government’s preparations to address the El Nino phenomenon, which is expected to affect the agriculture sector and national food security, including irrigation water supply, rice production, food crops and livestock farming.
Earlier reports stated that El Nino could influence Malaysia’s weather conditions in the near term and may continue until early next year.
The phenomenon typically brings hotter and drier conditions than normal, particularly during the Southwest Monsoon, which began on May 14 and is expected to last until September.
The dry conditions could reduce rainfall in several areas, raising the risk of water shortages, forest and peatland fires, as well as haze affecting parts of the country. - July 16, 2026
