JOHOR BAHRU: Mr Naviin Thiagaran and his father have been farming long beans, okra and cucumbers for almost five years on a small plot of land in Kota Tinggi, Johor. The pair have grown accustomed to working under sweltering hot conditions as they typically tend to their crops in the morning up till noon.
“I had all kinds of symptoms at one go. I was feverish, muscle ache, nauseous and I felt like I had gastric pain. I could barely walk and just had to lie down,” he added. Speaking in parliament on Jun 7, Malaysia’s Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the country is expected to experience a weak El Nino from June onwards, reaching moderate intensity in November.
He added that this impact in yield could possibly impact the supply chain and increase the prices of food. Meteorologist Dr Azizan Abu Samah of Universiti Malaya told CNA that El Nino phenomenon on top of the transboundary haze is likely to result in “prolonged hot and dry weather” until October. He estimated that the crop yield will drop by about 30 per cent this year due to the unusual weather conditions.
“So there are in fact existing guidelines. So maybe we need a refresher to know what to do when it happens,” said Mr Nik Nazmi.High risk of severe transboundary haze in 2023, public advised to be prepared: Singapore institute