Farmers hit as large swathes of paddy fields damaged by floods in Malaysia
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An aerial view shows houses surrounded by floodwaters after heavy rain in Tumpat, Malaysia's Kelantan state on Dec 2.
PHOTO: AFP
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KUALA LUMPUR - Devastating floods in Malaysia’s northern states have submerged more than 38,000ha of paddy fields, farmers and the authorities said, affecting major rice-producing areas and leaving farmers grappling with heavy losses.
Malaysia and Thailand have been hit by the worst flooding in decades, with dozens dead and hundreds of thousands displaced, and the authorities have warned of more heavy rains this week.
Around 12,600ha of paddy fields have been flooded in the north-western state of Kedah, which accounts for about half of Malaysia’s rice output, Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation treasurer Muhamad Rafirdaus Abu Bakar said.
“In Kedah, this is the third time in two months we are experiencing floods. The paddies affected by the floods have just been planted. They are only a day to a month old,” he said.
State media agency Bernama reported that more than 26,000ha of paddy fields in north-eastern state of Kelantan were damaged after being submerged by floods.
Kelantan Farmers Association chairman, Mr Zuha Ismail, was quoted as saying that most affected areas had been recently planted with seeds, and some were awaiting harvest.
He said farmers in Kelantan had been unable to plant paddy for three consecutive seasons, incurring losses amounting to thousands of ringgit.
In Kedah, Mr Muhamad Rafirdaus said around 6,000 farmers had been impacted by the floods. He said so far there had been no government support, and said previous flooding payments of RM1,000 (S$300) hadn’t covered losses.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said in a Facebook post on Dec 1 that the government is committed to studying types of assistance for farmers, including financial assistance and post-flood recovery support.
“The total amount of losses in the agricultural sector in Kelantan due to the floods is estimated to exceed RM16 million. This figure is expected to increase once our survey is completed,” he said. REUTERS
