During a working visit to the RTB Bukit Canggang livestock farm in Kuala Langat to inspect the livestock farms affected by the recent floods, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry YB Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee came across a cattle and goat farm run by Shah Rizaini, who lost 10 of his 60 head of cattle.
“Immediately after the unexpected flood, Department of Veterinary Service(DVS) activated the Flood Disaster Room and mobilized officers and staff to coordinate and help move livestock from the affected areas to safer areas including immediate evacuation centers,” Ronald says.
Zaini and other farmers in the same area were also given assistance under MAFI Prihatin which includes animal feed and health kits which are expected to ease their burden to some extent.
Animal feed items and health kits through DVS are also being distributed to affected farmers nationwide in addition to providing other necessary assistance.
Ruminant Transformation Movement (GTR), Cooperative together with Dr Rozaihan who is a ruminant lecturer at UPM with his students also helped the affected entrepreneurs and farmers by providing free treatment services to livestock.
According to preliminary information, 160 farmers in Selangor have been affected, with an estimated loss of up to RM2.1 million due to the death of cattle, goats, chickens, deer, ducks, sado cows, and rabbits, as well as the destruction of feedstocks, barn damage, and farm equipment damage.
Meanwhile, in Pahang and N.Sembilan, 55 and 48 farmers were affected respectively with a total loss of RM1.5 million.
The government has also allocated a fund of RM80 million under the Agro-Food Project Redevelopment Allocation (PPSPA) to help ease the burden of target groups affected by natural disasters such as flash floods that have hit recently.
Also present during the visit, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry I, Datuk Seri Haji Ahmad Bin Hamzah, Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid, Secretary-General MAFI, Dato Dr Norlizan Mohd Noor, Director-General DVS and Hussain Jaafar, President, GTR.
