Farmers warn of 80pct padi yield plunge amid water shortages

KOTA BARU: More than 3,000 farmers, cultivating over 15,000 hectares, fear their padi yields could fall by 80 per cent next month amid water shortages following their June and July seeding.

The chairman of the Kelantan Farmers’ Association (Pesak), Zuha Ismail, said the affected districts are Kota Baru Utara, Kota Baru Selatan, Pasir Puteh, Bachok, Tumpat, and part of Pasir Mas.

“The seeding process began in June and July, and water supply is crucial when seeding takes place.

“However, what is disheartening is that the water supply from the Kemubu pumping house could not be channelled to the farmers during the vital period, leaving the fields now with more grass than padi.

“Only from last month was water supplied from the Kemubu pumping house, and even then it was on a rotational basis, but by then the condition of the padi could no longer be saved,” he said when contacted.

He said the water shortage has caused padi yields, due for harvest next month, to drop by as much as 80 per cent.

Zuha added the situation is distressing as farmers, reliant on their fields, face losses and cannot repay debts.

The association hopes the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (Kada) resolves the issue, which has persisted for four consecutive seasons, particularly with the pumping house that supplies water to the fields.

“If the water problem is still not resolved, we will not plant padi in the coming season unless Kada addresses the issue. Our fields now are no longer padi fields but more like grass fields, as there is more grass than padi,” Zuha said.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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