TUARAN: The sudden increase in the price of fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides and building materials is worrying the Sabah Bumiputera Farmers and Stockbreeders Association or PETANAH.
PETANAH’s president, David Gaibin Ransoi, said in a statement here that the sudden increase is making the livelihood of farmers and the kampong folks a lot harder.
“It’s puzzling why this thing is happening during the on-going Covid-19 pandemic,” he said. “In times of low market sales, the price of goods and services should go down. But in this case it’s the other way round.”
He said a random survey carried out by Petanah and reports form farmers in several areas in Tuaran reveal that the price of fertilizers and pesticides have gone up more than ten percent in several shops, while the prices of farming tools and building materials have suddenly gone up between 20 to 25 percent.
“This is a serious burden to the farmers, stockbreeders and the village folks in general,” he lamented. “And it’s especially painful for them during this pandemic when they are not even allowed to hold tamus to sell their farm goods.
“In the villages, many farmers even have to throw away their fruits to rot for lack of market. It’s now more saddening because this is the fruit season, and they have very limited channels to sell their fruits. Most farmers cannot sell by cash of delivery (COD) because the lack of Internet facility and transportation.”
Because of the seriousness of the situation Ransoi appeals to the authorities to consider opening the tamus, with strict SOPs. If shops, supermarkets, restaurants and malls can be opened, there is no reason why tamus cannot be allowed, with strict control by the district councils enforcement units.
“I would also like to appeal to the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Hj Noor, who is also the assemblyman of Sulaman, Datuk Jahid Jahim as the Minister of Rural Development and the Assemblyman of Tamparuli, as well as Datuk Joniston Bangkuai who is the assemblyman of Kiulu and well as the Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, to look into ways to alleviate the heavy problems faced by the people,” he appealed. “I am also sure the same problems are facing the other village folks in many other districts in Sabah.
“While we are thankful for the food assistance distributed to the people affected by the pandemic, it is definitely not enough. Now the more serious problem of their very livelihood is being affected with the sudden prices increases of their farming and building needs.”-pr/BNN
