Every drop counts: The impact of the south-west monsoon starting May 10 are hotter days. Seen here are the water levels at the Ayer Itam dam. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Mindful of the hot and dry season, most farmers in Kedah have stopped the practice of rice straw burning to clear their padi fields.
“Although open-burning is the most cost-effective way to clear our padi fields, this will lead to haze especially during the dry season.
“Poor air quality is also not good for our health,” said farmer Wan Maharuddin Sulaiman, 68.
Another farmer in Pendang Abdul Rahman Abdullah, 58, said they have abandoned the practice of burning the padi fields.
Besides it being a harmful practice, he said the fire could spread.
“We use a decomposing agent to clear the padi straw after a harvest and before starting a new planting season,” he said.
“We also hire drone pilots to spray decomposing agents onto the field. This rice straw decomposition method also helps enrich the soil and promotes sustainable farming practices.”
Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said padi farmers are prepared for the dry weather as they have enough water supply to get them through it.
“Dry weather is never a problem as long as farmers have proper irrigation.
“Our preparations are good and the water supply and irrigation grid is working well, which is most important.”
He said there had been much rain earlier this year.
“The water level at our dams is above average and this capacity should see us through the dry spell.”
Ismail added that farmers are now in the process of planting the seeds.
Last week, Malaysian Meteorological Department director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the south-west monsoon would begin this month and is expected to last till September.
This period is marked by reduced rainfall with more dry days, he said.
“Avoid open burning and use water mindfully,” he said in a statement.
In Penang, there has been rain almost nightly on the island, which is filling up both dams here in Air Itam and Teluk Bahang.
However, Penang Water Supply Corporation chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan advised the people to be judicious in their water usage, especially in areas like Teluk Bahang, Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung Bungah and Air Itam.
He urged the public to stay within the target of 250 litres per person per day.
“With climate change, we can’t afford to waste water. We shouldn’t expect enough rain to fully replenish dams before the next dry season,” he said when contacted.
Pathmanathan recommended simple water-saving habits, such as washing cars with a bucket and watering plants with a can instead of using a hose.
He also reminded everyone to avoid leaving taps running and to teach children the correct way to turn off taps.
