ALOR SETAR: It’s bad enough that padi farmers here are suffering from the hot spell, now they have also been hit with a lack of machinery.
The unusual weather has made soil preparation and water management difficult, delaying planting.
It’s already mid-June, but most farmers are still believed to be in the seedling or early tillering stages, although the planting season traditionally begins in mid-April and runs through August.
“It is harder for us to stick to the usual planting schedule, as the hot season and unpredictable rainfall have disrupted soil preparation and water management,” said padi farmer Wan Maharuddin Sulaiman, 68.
“We cannot rely on rainfall, and many of us do not have access to proper irrigation.”
Wan Maharuddin, who has been planting padi in Pokok Sena for over 20 years, said this year’s conditions are among the most difficult he has ever seen.
“The fields should already be lush and green by now but due to the dry conditions, we cannot even begin preparations,” he said.
Another padi farmer in Pendang, Abdul Rahman Mohamad, 75, said while the unpredictable weather is nothing new, a severe shortage of farm machinery has presented a bigger problem this year.
“The poorer farmers who don’t have their own equipment are forced to wait their turn. This causes more delays to the planting schedule.
“Not every farmer can afford to buy new machinery, so we borrow from others.
“Just imagine – over 50 farmers in one area sharing one or two tractors. I believe it is the same story elsewhere,” he said.
Abdul Rahman hopes the authorities will bring additional machinery and offer subsidised water pumps to ease the burden, especially during peak planting periods.
“If the government can send more equipment, it would help us a lot,” he said.
Abdul Rahman added, however, that water supply for the first planting season remains sufficient.
Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said there is no concern about water supply for the first planting season, as the southwest monsoon has brought enough rain, though he acknowledged that farms in hilly areas or far from water sources may face challenges.
“Mada will deploy water pumps in affected areas while efforts are ongoing to improve infrastructure and boost padi yields.
“We are restructuring the padi industry with comprehensive reforms to improve quality, pricing and production,” he added.
