KOTA KINABALU – The increasing price of imported fertilisers, agricultural chemicals and animal feed is adding to the woes of Sabah farmers.
Despite repeated calls to lessen reliance on imported items, farmers are still paying 20% to 25% more to suppliers in China and India due to reduced shipments and possibly higher logistics costs.
Shahrizal Denci, a vegetable grower from Ranau, said most Sabah farmers had foreseen the problems, and asked the government to boost domestic supplies to gradually reduce dependence on imported goods.
“Most of these problems are caused by heavy dependency on imported agricultural-related products.
“For instance, many agricultural materials are from China, so we are left with no choice but to accept the prices set by suppliers, without cheaper alternatives.
“There’s also the possibility that producers have maintained their prices, but it is the cost of logistics that has gone up.”
He also blamed the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns for the higher prices.
Shahrizal said smallholders have been heavily affected by the cost increase and forced to cut into their profits, seeing that produce prices are heavily monitored by local authorities.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, and state Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan recently called on Putrajaya to regulate the price of agricultural fertilisers and chicken feed after a farmers’ association raised the issue.
Another Ranau farmer, Yusdy Roslie, said Sabah farmers are paying more for logistics than their counterparts in the peninsula.
He said import fees are three times higher for Sabah farmers – one fee is to pay for import from the source country to Port Klang, another from Port Klang to Kota Kinabalu, and finally, to transport the goods to local stores or directly to farmers.
“Not only are the charges higher, but the arrival of the ordered items takes longer. So, we are probably the last to receive the goods.”
Yusdy and Shahrizal agreed that the quality of produce has declined due to the short supply of chemicals needed in farming operations.
“Of course the quality of produce has dropped. Our production standards have been compromised, and as a result, yield has dropped. We fear that we may be forced to pass down the cost to consumers,” said Shahrizal, adding that this will increase consumers’ food expenditure.
Yusdy said if they begin to raise prices, the authorities will come after producers, and alleged that the government lacks understanding of the costs involved on the operational side.
The surge in prices of agricultural materials not only affects crop farmers, but also poultry breeders like Remy Majangkim from Sandakan.
He said the size of chicken sold at many markets has become smaller because feed is in short supply.
The duck and chicken breeder said there has been a noticeable increase in the price of chicken feed.
Not only have poultry prices gone up in the market, he said, but sizes are also declining due to the short supply of breeding materials.
“What we want is for the government, those who really understand the problem – not politicians who are briefed on the matter and issue statements – to step in.
“Many farmers and breeders don’t really need aid from the government, but want them to understand the problem and resolve it. This has been ongoing for years, but the pandemic has made it worse for many of us,” said Majangkim, adding that these issues caught the government’s attention only amid the Covid-19 crisis.
Unlike the construction sector, he said, a significant change, such as price increases, in agricultural operations affects the household, as it directly involves food security.
“This relates to the well-being of the people as it involves food. People often take to social media over increases in food prices, and as a result, we get punished by the authorities.
“But these issues have not been studied or revealed to the public as the reasons why the cost of running a farm has risen.” – The Vibes, October 1, 2021
