More headaches: The unpredictable weather is forcing farmers to be more cautious. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
ALOR SETAR: It has not been this bad in 10 years for padi farmers in the rice bowl state, which produces about half of Malaysia’s total rice output.
Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) believes the country’s rice supply output next month will likely be affected by at least 10% if the current situation in Kedah does not improve in the next few weeks.
Still reeling from the September floods that all but destroyed their crops, padi farmers here are at their wits’ end due to the northeast monsoon that has turned “unpredictable”.
The earlier floods left them with mounting debts and hardly any harvest, and many could not start the new planting season which was supposed to take place in early September.
Padi farmer Wan Maharuddin Sulaiman, 67, from Pokok Sena, foresees a food security issue since rice is the staple food of Malaysians.
“This is the worst situation we have faced in 10 years. We are supposed to follow the planting schedule to achieve five harvests a year but when we look at the skies, we are nervous.
“And for many of us, we only have money left to keep our families fed. We dare not do seeding or buy fertiliser when we look at the uncertain weather.
“We need money to buy seeds, rent tractors and prepare the fields. We don’t dare to spend that money now,” he said yesterday.
The country now faces the northeast monsoon, which tends to bring storm clouds that collect moisture in the South China Sea.
Typically, the northeast monsoon yields a wet phase in November and December, followed by a dry phase from January to roughly mid-March.
Weather woes: Farmers passing through rice fields in Permatang Pauh, Penang, as dark clouds hint at an approaching storm. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
But farmers like Wan Maharuddin said that two weeks into the northeast monsoon, their seeding fields are still dry unless they tap into irrigation canals.
“It’s climate change. Our fields got flooded when they were not supposed to, and now they are dry when they are supposed to be wet,” said Wan Maharuddin.
The same scenario is plaguing padi farmers in Kangar, Perlis. Dollah Sabri, 52, said the weather had left them unsure of how to restart planting the seeds.
“In July and August, an intense heatwave dried up our irrigation channels. Then, the rain came in early September. There was too much water when the padi was ripening,” he said.
The lack of machinery for rent, he added, also made it difficult to start the new planting season.
He said some padi farmers are now looking for idle land to plant vegetables, fruits and corn.
ALSO READ: Kedah floods threaten rice output
Dollah hopes the state and federal agencies in charge can quickly meet with farmers in Perlis to discuss how they can be helped.
“We hope for an immediate intervention and resources to prevent further losses and restore our productivity,” he said.
Back in Kedah, 4,223 padi farmers in Mada, who were affected by the September floods, will receive assistance through the Padi Crop Disaster Fund soon.
Mada chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said the disbursements will be done in one or two weeks.“The assistance will be channelled to eligible farmers so that they can start re-planting for the new season,” he said.
Dr Ismail said based on surveys conducted by Mada and the ministry, 5,388ha of padi fields were affected in the Muda basin.
ALSO READ: Mada begins damage assessments for flood-affected padi farmers in Kedah
The affected areas were 20ha in Perlis Region I, 1,525.6ha in Jitra Region II, 2,206.7ha in Pendang Region III and 1,636.33ha in Kota Sarang Semut Region IV.
Dr Ismail said about RM10mil was approved and affected farmers could expect to receive at least RM1,800 in aid per hectare.
On top of the disaster fund, some farmers received RM1,000 each to help offset their losses and support padi replanting.
Dr Ismail said 80 farmers from all four Mada regions received the cash aid on Nov 11 and the rest will be given this aid in stages. Mada also gave food baskets to the affected farmers.
On local rice production, he said he is targeting to improve the infrastructure in Mada regions.
“If we can improve the infrastructure, we can improve our local rice output,” he added.
