SUNGAI BESAR - Some 6,000 padi farmers in Sungai Besar are worried that rice production will reduce by more than 20 per cent due to the current hot weather.
Sungai Besar Area Farmers' Organisation (PPK) chairman Sallehuddin Mohd Iskan said although the crops in the area have yet to be harvested, some areas around Tanjong Karang have already experienced a reduction in yield.
He said the situation was caused by the low rainfall, which caused a decrease in weight, on top of diseases related to padi as well as pest and insect problems. "Normally, padi farmers in the nearby area (Tanjong Karang) are able to get between nine and 10 tonnes of padi, but it is expected to decrease due to the hot weather," he said when met at the PPK Aidilfitri Celebration Ceremony in Sungair Besar, here, on Tuesday.
Sallehuddin said it is feared that the same thing will happen in Sungai Besar.
He said the padi field in Sungai Besar covers about 6,000 hectares of area, including Panchang Bedena subdistrict, Sungai Panjang, and part of Pasir Panjang.
He explained that the reduced padi production issue experienced by padi farmers is not a new issue as it has been ongoing.
"The current hot weather adds to the existing problem, and I hope the government can help resolve the issue," he said.
In the meantime, Sungai Besar PPK is expected to build another padi purchasing centre to help farmers sell their crop directly to the association.
"We have two padi purchasing centres in Parit 12 and Parit 9, plus another centre that is expected to open this year," he said.
He said all padi purchasing centres can buy up to 5,000 metric tonnes of padi.
"A new centre will be built in Parit 1 in addition to a gas station that will generate the economy and business portfolio of Sungai Besar PPK," he said.