Dry earth: The padi fields are dry and barren due to the scorching weather.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s agricultural sector is grappling with the harsh effects of scorching temperatures and dwindling water supplies, posing significant challenges to crop cultivation and livestock farming.
Federation of Vegetable Farmers Associations president Lim Ser Kwee said farmers are worried that the dual combination could result in losses and supply chain disruptions.
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“In the past two weeks, there has been no rainfall, causing river water levels to drop.
“While vegetable farms upstream may still have sufficient water supply, those downstream are facing reduced water supply.
“Farmers are worried that there will be losses and a 10% reduction in vegetable planting if the hot weather persists without any rain soon,” he said.
Lim said the hardest hit were Johor, Penang and Melaka where extreme heat had led to water shortages in some vegetable farms located near rivers, resulting in delayed harvests.
“Leafy vegetables take 30 days to mature and are now experiencing delays of up to five days due to reduced watering.
“This is causing some vegetables to wither,” he added.
Lim also said crops such as cucumbers require watering twice a day while leafy vegetables need ample watering unlike okra which are watered once every two days or cabbage which requires even less watering.
He lamented the lack of government policies to assist local farmers from climate-related impacts and said reliance on imported vegetables would only drive up prices for consumers.
Cameron Highlands, which is known for its year-round temperate weather, has also not been spared the hot and dry spell.
Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association deputy president Lau Weng Soow said highland water supply has decreased, resulting in lower river water level due to lack of rainfall over the past two weeks.
He said climate change in recent years has resulted in irregular weather patterns such as scorching conditions during the dry season.
Johor Small and Medium Poultry Farmers’ Association secretary Lau Ka Leng said the hotter climate affects the growth of chickens.
“Chickens would usually eat less and prefer to drink more water during hot conditions,” he said.
He said poultry farmers will also have to instal more fans and water sprinklers to lower temperatures at their farms.
Presently, Lau said chicken production has yet to be affected and is able to meet market demand.
Malaysia Aquaculture Development Association president Benedict Lim Chin Khian said fish and shrimp farms are also impacted by the unusual change in weather patterns.
He said a sudden spike in water temperature could result in stress to these aquatic creatures, leading to a higher mortality rate.
“Since mid-February, the combination of scorching temperatures and unexpected heavy rainfall had disrupted the pH and ammonia levels of the water.
“These drastic changes in water quality have made fish and shrimp more vulnerable to diseases,” he said, adding that farmers have to be more vigilant in monitoring the water quality at their farms.
Lim also claimed many members have reported losses over the past few weeks although the amount has yet to be quantified.
However, he said there is sufficient supply of farm bred prawns and fish such as red grouper, seabass and grouper.
A recent survey by Khazanah Research Institute showed that changes in rainfall patterns over the past five years have impacted crop output, affecting 75.6% of smallholders.
The survey also found that agrifood smallholders at very high risk of extreme weather were in Sarawak, Kelantan and Pahang, followed by Perak and Sabah.
Crop growers were the most concerned about changes in rainfall patterns compared to livestock and aquaculture.
The findings were based on the largest survey done on some 3,300 smallholders involved in crops, aquaculture and livestock, who were asked 58 questions to produce 135,300 data points.
Those surveyed were 2,100 smallholder crop growers, 816 livestock smallholders and 702 aquaculture smallholders.
According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the hot weather is expected to continue until mid-April due to the lack of rain-bearing clouds and the equinox phenomenon.
