BACHOK: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has announced an additional allocation of RM400,000 to build water pumps and tube wells to overcome water problems during the dry season.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the measure was taken to help padi farmers who are hit by water shortage.
"We are getting the water pumps ready so that the hot weather will not affect padi cultivation," he told reporters after checking the water pumps in Kampung Kubang Telaga here today (May 29).
"If the pumps are not sufficient, we will consider adding more pumps like these before a suitable irrigation system is implemented in the future.”
Mohamad said the hot weather and drought have caused areas managed by the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (Kada) to face water supply issues when the Kemubu pump house was unable to irrigate some padi-growing areas in the north and south of Kota Baru, Pasir Puteh and Bachok.
"The hot weather has caused the Kelantan river to continue to dry up, and the Kemubu pump is not able to irrigate the entire 16,113ha of padi crops in the affected areas since nearly a month ago.
"Until now, Kada has provided three special pumps in the fields in Aur Duri (north of Kota Baru), Kampung Keling (south of Kota Baru) and Sungai Kemasin (Bachok area) to help farmers irrigate their padi fields," he said.
He also said Kada has distributed nearly 500 portable pumps to farmers as they are worried that their padi crops would be destroyed due to the drought.
"In this prolonged hot spell, Kada and farmers will cooperate to ensure padi that was planted in early January can be harvested in May or June.
"I wish to express my thanks to farmers for their willingness to build their own pipe system to avoid further loss of their padi crops," he added. - Bernama
