Hot Weather Not Affecting Water Supply From Pedu Dam For Padi Fields

KANGAR, May 9 (Bernama) -- The prolonged hot weather in the country is not affecting water supply for the rice growing areas under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA).

MADA general manager Kamarudin Dahuli said the water reservoir level in Pedu Dam, Kedah is still at a comfortable level of around 73 per cent.

"With the level of water in the dam at the moment, MADA expects that it will still be sufficient to channel water to the padi fields.

"If there is an El Nino phenomenon or extreme dry conditions, God willing we can still deal with the issue," he told reporters after the launch of the Smart SSB Mini Sekinchan MADA-Bernas Programme in Kampung Lat 1000, Simpang Empat here today.

The programme was launched by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

Also present were Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS) secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali; MAFS Agricultural Industry Development Division secretary Datuk Azman Mohmood and Perlis Agriculture Exco Razali Saad.

He said that to date, MADA has yet to receive any complaint from padi farmers suffering losses in padi cultivation due to the heat wave.

"About two per cent of the padi farmers in the MADA area have just started planting their crops.

"Taking into account the water reservoir level and irrigation factors under the current situation, the problem of dry or dead padi will not happen," he said.

The media today reported that the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA) recorded a loss of over RM2.7 million when almost 30 per cent of the padi yield in Kelantan were affected by the drought.

-- BERNAMA