Current hot season drying up padi fields in Sabah

It’s arid out here: Farmer Madili Riou, 55, showing the dried-up irrigation canal at his padi field in Kota Belud, Sabah. — Bernama

KOTA BELUD: Padi fields in some places in Sabah have dried up due to the hot and dry spell affecting the country.

A visit to Kampung Tempasuk Dua here found that some padi fields have dried up due to insufficient water supply.

Rice farmers are concerned whether the current weather condition will last until April as some had planted their crops a fortnight ago.

Madili Riou, 55, said the hot weather and lack of rain have been challenging as he must ensure ample supply of water for his 1.2ha plot.

“It has been almost a month since it rained here and this is worrying.

“If this continues, then our harvest and the quality of the rice will be affected and we will face losses,” he said.

Madili, who planted a new crop in mid-February, said that initially, there was enough water, adding that he never expected conditions to turn so dry.

“I hope something will be done soon because some of the planted crops are almost dying due to the lack of water supply,” he added.

Another farmer, Susah Tiampou, 65, said the lack of water in the fields was also due to upgrading works carried out on irrigation channels in some areas.

Susah, who has a 0.8ha plot, said other farmers were also ploughing, which needed sufficient water supply.

“Many padi fields in this village are big and the farmers need water for their crops, especially now during the dry season.

“The situation is still under control for the time being but we worry what will happen in the next one week,” he added.

Kota Belud Integrated Agriculture Development Area director Salmah Labulla said she was aware of the conditions faced by the rice farmers in the district, adding that several measures would be taken.

“This includes pumping water into the fields using mobile pumps, especially in areas where the crops have just been planted,” said Salmah during the interview.

The planting schedule for rice in the area would also be postponed for the time being until the weather returned to normal, added Salmah.

“We also advised the farmers to work their fields using other methods during this dry season,” she said.

The hot and dry season in Sabah is expected to go on until the end of March, except in a few areas such as Kudat, Sandakan and Tawau where it is expected to last until April. — Bernama