Mobile water pumps sent to drought-stricken padi farms in Kota Belud

KOTA KINABALU: Efforts are underway to address the water woes faced by padi farmers in Kota Belud district following a drought that has lasted for about a month.

Kota Belud Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA) director Salmah Labulla said IADA and other agencies, including the Sabah Drainage and Irrigation Department, Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Organisation Authority (FOA), have brought in mobile water pumps.

"Three main areas badly affected by the dry spell are Botung 1 and 2, Skim Tempasuk Selatan and Kesapang," she said when contacted on Tuesday (March 5).

She said the affected padi fields covered a total area of about 1,148.37ha, adding that padi farmers had to postpone the planting season due to the dry spell.

"We are focusing on providing water source for areas which have already started planting padi prior to the dry spell to avoid the crops from drying out," she said.

She said for dried out padi fields, rehabilitation efforts would be carried out soon.

She explained that the time span between planting padi and harvesting took about three to four months.

"After harvesting, the fields will be allowed to rest before farmers start preparing for the next planting season," she added.

Kota Belud is Sabah's main rice-producing district and each hectare of padi field is able to yield an average of 3.5 to 6 tonnes of padi.

Some areas can even get up to 10 tonnes of padi per hectare of field on superb weather and irrigation conditions.