KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government’s swift installation of three water pumps at the Kampung Piasau Irrigation Scheme in the northern rice bowl region of Kota Belud is expected to prepare 162ha of padi fields for the main planting season in July.
State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said the aim was to help farmers who have been unable to plant for three or four seasons because of ongoing irrigation works in the area.
During a recent visit to the scheme, Jamawi monitored construction of the intake system to channel water from Sungai Kadamaian to Sungai Wariu under Kota Belud’s Integrated Agriculture Development Area (IADA).
"I was here two months ago to hear the villagers’ concerns. They have not been able to plant for several seasons because of works by the contractor and the Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID).
"I promised to return with an interim solution. We proposed using pumps before the irrigation system is fully completed.
"Today, I thank DID, IADA and all agencies for working hard to install the three pumps so the fields can be irrigated," he said.
Jamawi added that the pumps would at least allow farmers to resume planting during the upcoming main season.
"This is the government’s commitment, and my ministry will continue to ensure farmers receive the best possible support," he said.
Additional works have also been approved to improve the irrigation system, he added.
Jamawi said it was important for cooperation between DID and district administrations to prevent quarrying or sand extraction near irrigation areas, warning that such activities had disrupted systems in districts like Keningau, Tenom and Tambunan.
"We do not want water levels to drop so low that padi irrigation systems fail because of quarrying or sand mining," he said, urging all parties to safeguard irrigation assets worth millions of ringgit for long-term benefit.
On the irrigation project's progress, Jamawi said the main intake structure is expected to be completed by August, although additional components – including a supplementary intake about 5km away – must also be finished to ensure sufficient water supply to the farthest fields.
He explained that the need for extra works arose during implementation when design improvements were identified, requiring further approvals from the Economy Ministry and related agencies.
