{
  "id": 4781233,
  "title": "Agriculture Ministry seeks more budget funds to brace for El Nino",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/agriculture-ministry-seeks-more-budget-funds-to-brace-for-el-nino",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T03:45:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2026/09/1523269/agriculture-ministry-seeks-more-budget-funds-brace-el-nino"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Serdang: The Malaysian Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is requesting supplementary budget funds for the 2027 budget to assist farmers in coping with deteriorating and unpredictable weather patterns, particularly the anticipated effects of El Niño later this year. Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu explained that the additional funding would be utilized to enhance crop resilience, including through the distribution of fertilizers, machinery, and other necessary measures to assist farmers in managing prolonged drought and extreme heat. This time, specifically in the face of El Niño, we have requested the government to be prepared to allocate additional resources to address drought and unpredictable heat. We may need to supply fertilizers or equipment to bolster crop resilience and so on. Therefore, an additional budget is required, he stated following the signing of 14 Memoranda of Understanding at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (Maha) 2026 today. Mohamad Sabu mentioned that the ministry had deliberated on its requests with the Finance Ministry, in response to a list of proposals prepared by its secretary-general. He affirmed that there was a consensus in principle to raise the ministry's allocation, especially to fortify preparations for global uncertainties and the expected more potent impact of El Niño next year. The ministry's requests are still under consideration. Typically, by August, the budget is predominantly finalized, but there are often minor adjustments made before it is published, he concluded.",
  "summary": "SERDANG: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is seeking additional funding under the 2027 Budget to help farmers withstand worsening and unpredictable weather conditions, particularly the expected impact of El Niño next year.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}