Kuala Lampur:Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) to prepare Cabinet Memoranda to keep the Cabinet informed about the food security situation until the El Niño phenomenon ends.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadillah emphasized the importance of this measure due to the risks posed by climate change and weather disruptions, which could impact national food production and supply. He highlighted that food security has become a matter of national security, influenced by global geopolitical uncertainties, extreme climate phenomena, and supply chain volatility.

Fadillah shared that this issue was addressed during the Meeting of the Executive Committee on National Food Security Policy (No. 2 of 2026) held at the Parliament and Administration Building. He noted that adverse weather conditions linked to El Niño and climate change might disrupt the food supply chain, leading to reduced production and local supply shortages.

To mitigate these risks, the government is implementing various preparatory measures, such as integrated water resource management, to ensure sustainable water usage across sectors. The expansion of Smart Irrigation Monitoring Systems and Drip Irrigation Systems (TITIS) aims to prevent water wastage and allocate resources according to actual land needs.

Furthermore, Fadillah stated that alternative and sustainable water management practices are being applied to rice production systems to optimize water-use efficiency, alongside promoting Controlled Environment Agriculture, including closed-house poultry farming systems.

He also called on all agencies involved in water infrastructure projects to ensure timely completion to prevent delays and avoid projects becoming stalled or problematic.