KOTA BARU: The Kelantan government has urged the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (Kada) to expedite the repair work on the temporary sheet pile embankment at the Kemubu Pump Station as agreed in the previous State Executive Council (MMK) meeting.
State agriculture, agro-food and commodity industry committee chairman Datuk Tuan Mohd Saripudin Tuan Ismail said the issue of water supply to padi fields is expected to be addressed after the repair work is completed.
He said the MMK meeting on March 12 had agreed to the proposal for immediate work to strengthen the temporary sheet pile embankment at the Kemubu Pump Station, here.
"In addition, the state Drainage and Irrigation Department always ensures that the pumps in the padi field schemes under its supervision, including the support pumps, are in good condition and operating properly," he said.
He was replying to a question by Abdul Rahman Yunus (PAS-Pasir Tumboh) regarding concrete steps taken by the state government and Kada to ensure sufficient water supply for farmers during the dry season, during the State Legislative Assembly sitting at Kota Darulnaim Complex, here, Wednesday (April 23).
Meanwhile, when replying to a supplementary question from the same assemblyman regarding the use of rice seed varieties suitable for the weather in Kelantan, Tuan Mohd Saripudin said four rice varieties produced by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) had been planted in the state, namely MR297, MR269, MR220 CL2 and MR315.
He said 73% of the rice planting area in Kelantan used the MR297 variety which was identified as resistant to drought and tungro disease.
"Mardi also declared a new variety, MR326, this year but it has not yet been planted in Kelantan, while flood and drought-resistant varieties are currently in the research and evaluation phase," he said.
Meanwhile, answering a supplementary question from Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani (BN-Nenggiri) on the claim that sand dredging work for the Sireh Valley development project affected the water level of the Kelantan River, he stressed that the activity did not disrupt pump operations because it was carried out according to set guidelines.
"Last year, padi yields declined due to drought and water shortages, this problem can be solved if the repair work is expedited and we hope it is completed before the second season this year so the rice farmers are not affected," he said. — Bernama
