NEW PUMPS TO OVERCOME WATER SUPPLY PROBLEMS, RAISE KELANTAN PADI OUTPUT

KOTA BHARU, May 6 (Bernama) -- The announcement of a RM20 million allocation by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the provision of 20 units of water pumps to the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA) area is expected to solve the water supply problems faced by farmers over the past 30 years.

Kelantan Padi Farmers Association chairman Zuha Ismail said the availability of these 20 new units of pump, will launch rice planting in the coming season which is expected to start in June thus increasing rice production.

He said sufficient water resources is the main factor that determines the yield of padi which contributes to the country's food security.

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"The approval is good news for more than 7,000 KADA farmers as it solves the long-standing problem of water sources in padi fields.

"We are all very grateful to the Prime Minister who is concerned and understands the constraints faced by farmers by quickly approving the allocation," he told Bernama today.

Zuha said most of the more than 26,000 hectares of KADA's padi fields were damaged and could not be harvested this season due to water supply problems following the severe drought which began in February.

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He said, the problem caused farmers to bear a loss of about RM1,500 per hectare including the cost of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.

"I understand that each new pump that will be installed in the Kelantan river is capable of supplying water to about 300 hectares of padi land. If these 20 pumps work well, we expect farmers will no longer face irrigation problems," he said.

Meanwhile, KADA chairman Muhammad Husin, when contacted by Bernama, said that a special meeting was held yesterday to discuss the overall work in preparing the pumps involved.

He said, KADA has prepared a paper on the matter and will submit it to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to be examined and approved.

"KADA has made thorough preparations and has listed a number of pump options as well as methods on how to manage the allocation to immediately overcome the problem of water shortage during the dry season," he said.

On May 2, Anwar ordered that the purchase of 20 water pump units worth RM20 million for use in Kelantan be expedited.

He was reported as saying that Kelantan is now facing the problem of a prolonged dry season which requires immediate action

-- BERNAMA