Over 7,000ha of padi crops affected due to hot spell in Kelantan

KOTA BARU: A total of 7,800ha out of 26,833ha of padi crops under the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (Kada) have been affected by the hot weather and drought in Kelantan.

Kada general manager Mohd Faizul Mustafa said among the affected areas are Pasir Puteh, Bachok, Pasir Mas, and Kota Baru.

“The 2022 second padi planting season, which began in December last year and was harvested in April this year, was somewhat affected due to the shift in the monsoon period. From a survey, we found that 390 farmers were affected due to this,” he told BK here today (May 3).

Mohd Fairuz said the prolonged hot weather had impacted the crops as there was a shortage of water in the padi fields which subsequently left the soil parched.

He said this will affect the development of the padi crops and if the situation worsens, the crops would be stunted and their leaf stalks empty.

He said the hot weather would also result in limited water resources and water supply to the fields would have to be distributed on a rotation basis.

“In this situation, there would be a disruption to the growth of the padi crops as these crops are dependent on water to grow and form stalks, thus affecting rice production as well as reducing the quality of agricultural produce.

“Additionally, the farmers’ income would be affected,” he said.

Mohd Faizul also said Kada has taken several drastic measures to ensure farmers will not suffer bigger losses and these include supplying mobile pumps to the affected areas, identifying locations with underground water sources to be discharged through tube wells and supplying diesel fuel to pumps registered with Kada.

In the meantime, he added, Kada has come up with several additional approaches in preparation for the first rice crop season this month.

Among them are the use of all available irrigation facilities to supply water to padi fields, adjusting the water supply schedule as well as implementing mud removal works in the river and main structures to facilitate the flow of water to the fields. – BK