ALOR SETAR: The Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) has begun assessing damages to determine financial losses suffered by padi farmers during the recent floods.
Its chairman, Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh, said disaster relief is available for affected padi farmers under Mada's jurisdiction.
"Officials have already started conducting surveys to assess the situation. These surveys will determine the eligibility of padi farmers for aid," he said.
He said the aid would be based on the extent of the crops' damage and growth stage.
Ismail said the damage assessment findings would be submitted to a working committee and forwarded to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.
He said this committee would make a recommendation to the ministry for the compensation.
"The compensation can only be handed over after five to six months,” he said.
He added that the farmers needed immediate assistance to kick-start the new padi planting season, which started on Sept 5.
"Mada will bring up this issue at the 'Kedah Program Sentuhan Madani' event to the Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, who will be there," he said.
Ismail hoped there would be immediate aid for the approximately 3,000 affected farmers.
Meanwhile, three districts in Kedah are still flooded with 608 individuals from 204 families at seven temporary relief centres (PPS).
Kedah Civil Defence Force deputy director Major Mohd Suhaimi Mohd Zain said the relief centres are in Pokok Sena, Kubang Pasu and Padang Terap.
"Five areas in the three districts, namely Kampung Padang, Kampung Perik, Kuala Nerang, Kepala Batas and Taman Aman, are still showing increasing flood waters as of Sunday (Sept 29)," he said.
He advised residents and villagers, especially in low-lying areas, to be careful and to listen to the authorities' advice.
