Only 10pct of Kedah padi farmers begin dry-season planting

ALOR STAR: Only about 10 per cent of the 56,000 padi farmers in Kedah, including those in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) area, have begun planting, even though the dry-season schedule was supposed to start in April and early May.

Malaysian Padi Farmers Association (PeSAWAH) chairman Abdul Rashid Yob said the situation arose as farmers faced a dilemma between the risk of water shortages during the dry season and the threat of flooding if rain continues.

“Although rain is still falling at the moment, water levels at the dams — particularly Muda Dam — have not yet stabilised enough to allow large-scale water releases for irrigation purposes.

“Right now we can see some farmers beginning to prepare the soil, but the overall planting schedule is still delayed. There is water in the padi fields because of the rain, but dam water levels are still not high enough.

“According to weather forecasts, rain will only fall intermittently this month before decreasing again in June and is expected to become even drier around July,” Rashid said when contacted today.

Rashid said the situation was worrying as padi crops required a continuous water supply, particularly during the growth period from the first day through to about 80 days after planting.

He said some farmers were taking their own initiative by using pumps to draw water from nearby rivers, but this was adding to rising operational costs.

“Farmers right now are really struggling because the cost issue has not been resolved. Fuel prices fluctuate, operating costs are rising and this is affecting farmers’ motivation to continue planting.

“Incentives such as RM200 per hectare under the Padi Ploughing Incentive (IPKP) are there, but they are not a solution to the core issues faced by farmers.

“I understand that other sectors have received expanded diesel subsidies, but padi cultivation is still facing cost problems without any long-term solution — costs have risen by more than 50 per cent.

“If padi-related machinery were also to receive fleet diesel cards, I am confident many farmers would begin ploughing their fields,” he said.

It was previously reported that the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) advised that the Southwest Monsoon, which began last week, was expected to continue until mid-September with weather conditions that were hotter and drier than usual.

A weak El Nino phenomenon, expected to begin developing in June, was also forecast to reduce rainfall in several of the country’s key padi-growing areas.

Meanwhile, Mada’s website today showed that water supply levels at its three main dams stood at only 41.55 per cent.

Pedu Dam recorded a storage level of 42.61 per cent, Muda Dam 15.92 per cent and Ahning Dam 51.77 per cent.

At the same time, total water releases were recorded at 600 cubic feet per second, comprising 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) from Pedu Dam and 100 cfs from Ahning Dam, while Muda Dam remained closed.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

المصدر: New Straits Times