ALOR SETAR: Several farmers in Kedah are losing livestock and cannot work long hours due to the extremely hot weather.
Cattle breeder Muhammad Fesol Ismail, 48, said he lost three “lembu sado” (bulls) in the past few weeks from heatstroke caused by the prolonged hot season.
“Last month, I lost two bulls, and early this month, I lost another due to the heat,” he said.
The Kampung Nako Nambua resident in Kuala Nerang, Padang Terap, said he lost about RM30,000 after three of his bulls died.
He said that although the water supply is enough, bulls and other livestock cannot withstand the heat during the day.
“Lembu sado” is an imported breed of cattle that is triple the size of domestic cattle.
Muhammad Fesol said he hopes the relevant government agencies would come to the ground to see how farmers suffer when they lose their livestock during this hot season.
He believes other livestock breeders in Kedah are suffering a similar fate.
In Kedah, especially in Padang Terap, the maximum daily temperature can hit about 38°C for two to three days in a row.
A padi farmer in Pendang, who only wanted to be known as Ahmad, said the extremely hot weather had forced him to limit his outdoor activities.
“The hot weather has somehow shortened our working hours, and this is difficult for us as we need to manage our padi fields.”
Ahmad said padi farmers are in the fields until 1pm but the current scorching weather has made it impossible for them and they have to quit by 10am every day.
He said the padi’s growth could also be stunted if the hot season prolongs, as padi cannot withstand extreme weather.
Vegetable farmer Mohd Shahid Sapian, 25, said that although his crops are not affected by the hot weather, he is concerned about the health of farmers like him.
“As long as there is water supply, our crops are safe, but what concerns me is how this weather affects farmers’ health.
“We now have to limit our outdoor exposure due to the extreme heat,” he said.
Mohd Shahid, who lives in Kampung Masjid Lama Naka, said he is worried that the water supply would be affected if the current hot spell continues, hindering crop growth.
Last Thursday, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department identified a total of 406 hotspots across the country via satellite.
