Farmers feeling the dry heat

Parched: A dead haruan (common snakehead) fish is seen in a padi field that is drying up near Kampung Permatang Nibong in Permatang Pauh, Bukit Mertajam.

BUKIT MERTAJAM: As the sun in a cloudless sky scorches the land, cracked mud on the padi fields is giving farmers the jitters.

They fear the absence of rain will disrupt their planting schedule and padi production.