KANGAR: Nearly 6,000 farmers in northern Perlis have had their livelihoods affected as 7,500ha of padi fields remain unproductive due to the drought this year.
State Farmers Organisation Authority director Shaidan Nordin said cultivation could only be carried out in 30% of the total of 11,500ha of padi fields in the area, albeit with imperfections.
“The 30% of fields where seeds were sown did not produce good yield; it was difficult for the plants to grow as it is not possible to use fertilisers in dry conditions,” he said.
He said this after opening the annual general meeting of the Paya District Farmers’ Organisation here yesterday.
Shaidan said the farmers began sowing seeds over a month ago, but with only intermittent rain occurring of late, the fields tend to dry up again, and the young plants wilted.
Even vegetable plants could not be grown to enable the farmers to earn a side income during the drought, he added. — Bernama
