JITRA: Farmers from the Lubuk Batu Area Farmers’ Organisation (PPK) near here have suffered more than RM2mil in losses after nearly all of their 232ha padi fields were flooded since last Monday.

Megat Asmadi Megat Saidin, 52, from Kampung Panchor, said his padi fields covering almost 19ha were inundated in water, resulting in total damage to the crops that were ready for harvest.

“I’ve suffered huge losses but can’t say exactly how much...an area (of about 0.29ha) usually yields 1.5 tonnes of rice. Each tonne is priced at RM1,800.

“I’m also bearing the costs of ploughing and purchasing padi seeds, not just for my fields but also for other farmers who hire me. I put up the capital upfront, and payment was supposed to be made after the harvest.

“Without immediate aid, I won’t be able to resume rice cultivation after this flood. It’s not just me; my fellow farmers also need financial support as their crops for this season have been completely destroyed,” he told reporters today, Bernama reported.

According to Megat Asmadi, this is the worst flood the area has experienced in 14 years, with the previous major flood occurring in 2010.

Abdul Jalil Abdullah, 59, from Kampung Padang Luar, said the flood has led to estimated losses of over RM5,000, affecting 0.43ha of his padi fields.

“I’ve ordered a rice harvesting machine... in addition to the harvest, I will need to cover the costs of seeds, ploughing and labour,” he said.

Lubuk Batu PPK chairman Harun Ramli, 72, expressed hope that the government would disburse funds to the 93 affected padi farmers in the area.

“The padi was due for harvest this week, but it’s all destroyed. There’s nothing we can do about it.

“The losses are huge, almost as bad as the 2010 flood,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kedah Farmers’ Organisation Authority (LPP) deputy director Nor Rahila Yusof urged all affected farmers to submit evidence, such as photographs of their flooded padi fields, to help facilitate the assessment of losses.

She said this is a key step in the standard operating procedure (SOP) for dealing with such disasters.

“When a flood occurs, you need to promptly take photographs, file a police report and coordinate with the PPK to liaise with the Agriculture Department.

“Department officers will visit the affected areas to assess the damage. We will review the padi crop schedule to determine the planting duration and estimate the costs incurred by the farmers,” she said after distributing packed meals from the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to flood victims at the Dewan PPK relief centre near here.

Nor Rahila said that so far, 93 farmers have been affected, involving 232ha of padi fields in Lubuk Batu PPK.

Separately, about 100 houses were damaged by a storm which struck several areas in Sik district at about 2.30pm on Wednesday.

Sik district civil defence officer Lt (Civil Defence) Haisul Aishah Mohd Napiah said an estimated 300 residents were believed to have been affected by the storm, involving 73 cases in Mukim Sik and 27 in Mukim Jeneri.

“Some residents’ houses were hit by falling trees, while others had their roofs blown off by the storm. The total estimated loss is still under investigation,” she said in a statement.

She said 81 cases of fallen trees were reported as at 10am yesterday.

“In the event of an emergency, members of the public in Sik District can call the Sik Civil Defence Department at 010-817 7991 or 999,” she said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/20/flood-hit-padi-farmers-desperate-for-aid