Faulty pumps, drought cause drying paddy fields in Kepala Batas

About 100 farmers in Pinang Tunggal, Paya Keladi and Pantai Kamloon in Kepala Batas, Penang, are at risk of suffering major losses when there is inadequate water supply to irrigate over 1,000 hectares of paddy fields.

Farmers’ representative Saadon Ayub, 53, said their paddy fields had not received water supply for the past two weeks due to drought and faulty pumps at the Pinang Tunggal pump house, which had failed to channel water to irrigate the crops.

“The paddy fields have dried up, and the soil hardened and cracked because there is no water. We are very worried here because the rice is now in the ripening stage and within two to three weeks it can be harvested.

“If there is no water in the paddy fields, the rice growth will be stunted or damaged so we really hope that relevant parties such as the state agriculture department and Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA) Penang to assist us by channelling water into the fields,” he said today.

He said there was enough water at the Pinang Tunggal pump house but the faulty pumps could not channel the water as usual and he had already informed the relevant agencies about the problem.

Another farmer, Mohd Suki Jamaludin, 40, said he spent RM1,000 to buy his own water pump to irrigate his crops but it was not enough.

He said he had no choice but to buy his own water pump because if there was no water supply in his rice fields, it would be a huge loss as it was in the stage of ripening and would soon be harvested.

“IADA has provided two water pumps but they are inadequate to service all the farmers here. Those pumps can only solve short-term problems while drought occurs every year.

“We believe if the Pinang Tunggal pump house can channel the water into the area, the water supply problem can be solved.

“We hope the relevant parties can solve this problem by ensuring that the pumps in the pump house are functioning properly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kepala Batas MP Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who visited the affected areas, said he would write a letter to the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry to take immediate action to help the farmers.

- Bernama