Kada provides pumps to help padi farmers deal with dry spell

TUMPAT - The Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (Kada) has taken the initiative to install two high-capacity water pumps in the 424-hectare rice cultivation area in Kampung Simpangan and Kampung Tualang here to ensure adequate water supply as the brunt of the dry spell sets in.

KADA deputy general manager (development) Mohd Razif Abdullah said the effort was to prevent rice farmers from continuing to suffer losses when the cultivated crops were damaged due to drought.

"A total of 14 padi farmers here suffered huge losses last season due to the lack of water sources to be channelled to the fields, causing the padi plants to be damaged badly.

"Kada, in collaboration with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, took the responsibility of providing two pumps to siphon water from Sungai Raut, located about four kilometres from the fields. This is in preparation for the planting season beginning June,” he told Bernama after surveying the fields here today.

He said the two pumps can irrigate about 300 hectares of padi fields.

Meanwhile, farmer Che Amat Che Hasan, 66, said the pumps are expected to solve the problems faced by farmers, who had to bear losses of more than RM20,000 aside from other agricultural debts.

"Previously, I cultivated about 10 hectares of padi fields, but luck was not on my side when all the crops were damaged due to lack of water in the scorching weather this time,” he said.

Another farmer, Mohd Ridzuan Che Lah, 51, who cultivates about 80 hectares in Kampung Simpangan, said he did not expect to suffer such a big loss, his first since he started cultivation more than 30 years ago.

Previously, Kada general manager Mohd Faizul Mustafa said 7,800 hectares of the 26,833 hectares of padi crops under Kada were affected by the drought in Pasir Puteh, Bachok, Pasir Mas, Tumpat and Kota Bharu this year. - BERNAMA