Farmers May Not Plant Paddy To Avoid Losses Due To Dry Spell Group

---

Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (PeSawah) is concerned that paddy farmers would incur massive losses if the dry spell continues.
To avoid this, the organisation’s secretary Muhamad Rafirdaus Abu Bakar said drastic measures might be taken, which included not planting paddy until there is a solution.
Citing the situation in Kedah as an example, he said the water level in the Muda dam is concerning.
“What is more disturbing is whether there will be sufficient water supply in the coming seasons for paddy planting in October,” he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.
“This is because, in Perak, farmers are burdened because there is no water supply despite their crop being 50 days old, " he said, adding that farmers in Kelantan are also in a conundrum.
Rafirdaus claimed that until now, no related department or ministries have taken action nor have there been any circulars regarding the issue.
“So, to avoid wastage, don’t plant paddy (for now),” he added.
Cloud seeding underway
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the government would conduct cloud seeding operations in Kedah and Perak for three consecutive days starting today.
He said the operations are aimed at increasing water levels for agricultural and domestic use in the Bukit Merah (Perak) and Muda (Kedah) dams.
Referring to data from the National Water Services Commission on Friday (July 26), Zahid noted that the current level of the Muda dam is at 9.44 percent while the Bukit Merah dam stands at 15.25 percent.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid HamidiCurrently, Zahid said water from the Muda Dam is being channelled to the Pedu Dam in Kedah to meet domestic, industrial and paddy irrigation needs.
The Muda area is Malaysia's largest rice bowl, covering 100,641.19ha, with 81,606.66ha in Kedah and 19,034.53ha in Perlis.
Meanwhile, the paddy fields in Kerian, which receive water from the Bukit Merah Dam, constitute the third-largest rice bowl, covering 20,326ha. - Mkini

---