AGRICULTURAL exports, especially to Singapore, are continuing as normal despite Putrajaya’s two-week movement-control order which came into effect on Wednesday, said farmers’ association.

Supplies of local fruits, vegetables, chicken and eggs into the island-republic have been unaffected, with tight control put on lorry drivers transporting these produces.

While they’re not worried about any shortage of agricultural products, fruit farmers fear that they may soon run out of pesticides.

Federation of Malaysian Vegetable Farmers Association president Tan So Tiok said 23% of the peninsula’s vegetable crops, including from Cameron Highlands, go to Singapore.

“The law enforcement agencies require that every lorry driver entering Singapore be registered in order to control the virus. Drivers must have their temperature checked and are required to put on masks,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He also urged the public not to panic about running short of vegetables, saying that there’s sufficient supply to meet the 15-day movement control order.

Fruit farmers have, however, expressed concern over shortage of fertiliser which may affect their harvest.

“If the outbreak does not get better, I am afraid that fertilisers imported from European countries, such as Norway, Finland and Germany, will be in short supply and affect harvest,” said Malaysia Fruit Farmers Association president Hong Jok Hon.

More than 90% of Singapore’s food supply is provided by imports, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, pork and processed products.

According to the Singapore Food Authority, 73% of its eggs come from Malaysia and with domestic farms supplying the remaining 26%.

Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia (FLFAM) adviser Jeffrey Ng Choon Ngee said eggs and live chicken exports to Singapore are operating as usual.

“Transporting live chicken requires more than two workers. It can’t be done by one driver alone. The immigration authorities of both countries are taking body temperatures of those transporting chicken.

“The livestock industry is most concerned about germs, so farmers strictly follow standard operating procedures.”

He said there is sufficient domestic supply of eggs and chicken meat.

Malaysia imposed a two-week MCO in an attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Under this order, people are required to stay at home while non-essential businesses and workplaces have been ordered to be shut. – March 22, 2020.