06-08-2025
Kedah padi farmers feel the heat as harvest nears
Green horizons: An aerial view of padi fields near Alor Setar as the time for harvesting nears. — Pic courtesy of Abdul Salim
ALOR SETAR: Abdul Salim Mohamad looked out at his 5ha padi field with a worried look on his face.
The 70-year-old's padi stalks were turning golden, getting ready for harvesting. But it was not good news.
Instead, the fields are drying out faster than expected.
'We are supposed to harvest in about a month. But the soil could crack before we do so,' said Abdul Salim, who is hoping that rain will fall over his field in Kampung Dulang Besar in Yan by next week.
The current dry spell is helping padi farmers dry out their fields for harvesting but it could also stunt crop growth and reduce yields.
Pest infestations and crop diseases are also prevalent in very dry conditions.
Tens of thousands of hectares of padi fields are already turning golden and should be ready for harvesting in a month, with the next planting season to come at the end of September.
Wahab Ayub, 70, said farmers can manage short periods of heat, but prolonged exposure is a threat to both their health and crops.
'I have to rest at noon when the sun is at its peak, then continue working until about 3pm,' said Wahab, who has been farming since his teens.
He said most farmers limit their time outdoors nowadays, only visiting the fields occasionally to monitor crop growth.
'Rats and brown planthoppers are a problem now. The hoppers breed fast when it's hot and humid,' he said.
Zainol Hussein, 76, from the Kedah Padi Farmers Federation (Teroi division), said most crops are now bearing grain.
'But water sources are drying up. The younger plants still need water to grow well,' he added.
Zainol said rain is expected soon, but if dry conditions persist, the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) and the Area Farmers Organisation (PPK) will help.
He said field monitoring would be stepped up, and farmers must continue pest control and other crop protection measures during this critical stage.
In June, Mada said it was fully prepared for the south-west monsoon, which is expected to bring hot, dry weather this month.
It also advised farmers to follow the planting calendar closely.
As of Tuesday, the three Mada-supervised reservoirs held a combined 640,069 acre-feet of water – 52.34% of total capacity.
Pedu Dam stood at 467,125 acre-feet (53.39%), Muda Dam at 42,300 (33.84%) and Ahning Dam at 130,644 (58.58%).
One acre-foot equals the volume of an eight-lane, 25m-long, 3m-deep swimming pool.
State agriculture committee chairman Dzowahir Ab Ghani reminded farmers to stick to Mada's advised schedules.
Dzowahir said he had been holding roadshows since last year, including informal sessions with farmers to discuss concerns and get updates.
'So far, feedback from state and federal agencies has been very positive,' he said.
