Water shortage threatening padi harvest
KERIAN: Padi farmers in the area have only five more days of irrigation available from the Bukit Merah Dam before it reaches the supply cut-off level.
As of 10am yesterday, the water level stood at 6.25m, just above the final warning level of 6.09m.
The five-day estimate is based on a daily drop of 0.03m from Wednesday’s reading of 6.28m.
According to the Kerian Irrigation and Drainage Department, the dam has reached Stage Three Irrigation Critical Status, with only 8.8637 million cubic metres of water remaining, equivalent to 16.27% of capacity.
At this level, water can no longer flow into the irrigation canals.
If conditions do not improve and rains fail to return, some 166,000 residents in Kerian may also face water rationing.
Although light rain was recorded on Wednesday, it was insufficient to reverse the decline, with locals describing it as “15 minutes of drizzle”.
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The prolonged drought, which began at the end of last December, has resulted in significant losses for farmers, as irrigation is being rationed during a crucial phase of the crop cycle.
Kerian district has 21,000ha of padi fields as of 2024, according to the Integrated Agriculture Development Area.
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Muhd Akmal Mat Rafaii, 31, said about 20 farmers in the Tebuk Panchor area have been affected this season.
“Water is now released on a rationed basis, leaving many fields dry just as the crop enters a crucial growth stage.
“The season began in December, and harvest is due in March, but much of the padi did not grow well, as the drought started early. Fertiliser has become useless because it cannot be dissolved and absorbed. Some plots are damaged and produce nothing,” he said.
Akmal estimated yields could decline by 30%, with some husks hollow and containing no rice.
“When fields dry up, rats roam freely and build nests in the soil. Pesticides are also less effective in dry conditions,” he added.
In nearby Parit Satu, some farmers were unable to apply pesticides, allowing weeds to overrun their fields.
While a few have invested in pumps to draw water from low-level canals, others cannot afford to do so.
The situation in Ban Pisang is worse. Farmers who typically harvest three tonnes now fear yields may fall to less than one tonne.
Declining harvests over the past decade have also taken a toll on Akmal’s operations, including his rice harvester rental business.
“In the past decade, we have reduced our number of machines from five to two. With the poor harvests, three had to be sold off,” he explained.
In Perlis, 771 farmers operating about 720ha of padi fields outside the Muda Agricultural Development Authority area have been affected.
State environment and biotechnology committee chairman Megat Hashirat Hassan said the affected area could widen if the hot, dry weather persists.
An emergency response has been activated, with 119 water pumps deployed statewide – 39 from the Agriculture Department and 80 from the Irrigation and Drainage Department.
Megat Hashirat said the Timah Tasoh Dam, currently releasing water at a 10% gate opening, will increase the discharge to 15% to ease conditions in affected areas.
As of 10am yesterday, the dam’s water level stood at 27.3m. At the current rate, it is expected to drop to the drought alert threshold in about 15 days.
Potential padi losses are estimated at 3,240 tonnes and could rise if dry conditions continue, further affecting farmers’ incomes.
Megat Hashirat added that preparations are underway to channel assistance.
Farmers have been urged to register with Agrobank and their respective Area Farmers’ Organisation branches to ensure eligibility.
