Compiled by BENJAMIN LEE and BEH YUEN HUI
PROLONGED hot weather since March has affected the quality and yield of watermelons in Setiu, Terengganu, reported Kosmo!.
Farmers said most of their watermelon yields were reduced after failing to reach the optimal growth weight of at least 7kg, resulting in the produce being downgraded to Grades B and C.
Farmer Mohd Azhar Ibrahim, 45, said the intense heat not only stunted growth but also affected the fruits’ appearance, leaving some with slight dents on their outer surfaces.
The watermelons were also ripening faster than the usual 60 days, making it harder to meet market standards.
“As such, we can’t sell the watermelons to a wider market as the fruits do not meet the required grade.
“We end up selling them ourselves at roadside stalls at a lower price,” he said.
Another farmer, Sabri Razali, 42, said the hot weather also resulted in water shortages, which have only worsened the situation.
He said they are forced to ration water as wells and retention ponds have dried up.
> Despite having recently lost her husband to a heart attack, a widow in Terengganu has found comfort in knowing that his donated organs have helped save lives, reported Kosmo!.
Nurul Hanis Amelia Ramli, 32, is glad that three individuals will have a second chance at life thanks to the organs of her husband, Muhammad Syukri Bazli, who died in early April.
Although she does not know who the organ recipients are, Nurul Hanis said she was informed that all three are in stable condition after undergoing organ transplant surgery.
One of Muhammad Syukri’s kidneys was donated to a 47-year-old woman who had been undergoing dialysis for nine years, while the other went to a 19-year-old.
His liver was transplanted into a 13-year-old girl.
“I pray that all three of them continue to be blessed with good health to live out their lives.
“The organ donation was my late husband’s final act of kindness, and I hope his story will raise public awareness on the importance of organ donation,” she said.
The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
