KENINGAU: More than 200 acres of padi fields in eight villages in the Bingkor area are covered by overgrown shrubs since they became idle four years ago.
Previous to that, the areas have been cultivated and tended without any problem whatsoever.
However, the fields have been abandoned after a field levelling project had not been carried out properly by the appointed contractor.
It was also understood that the contractor had absconded from the project site even before the completion of the project.
A padi planter who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “when we opted to switch to the dry field method of planting padi, like what has been done by padi planters in Kedah, levelling of the area would have to be carried out first.
“But, the levelling work had not been done properly by the contractor. He has abandoned the works before completion, leaving us literally high and dry.”
The contractor had used a bulldozer leaving a trail of destruction and damage to the plots.
According to him, padi planters in the area are dismayed and frustrated by the act of the contractor which had resulted in padi cultivation not being carried out for more than four years now.
“We are desperate and are forced to toil our plots despite the difficulties.
The plots are no longer suitable for padi, they are no longer flat like they used to be, there are stones of all sizes everywhere, the bushes and shrubs are overgrown, the soil surface uneven.
“The list can go on,” he lamented.
There is no other way that can be done by the farmers to fend for themselves and their families since padi cultivation is in their hearts and in their minds.
It is their way of life professed from their ancestors.
He said that for farmers who can afford it, they buy rice.
It was also stated that officials of the Agriculture Department had previously promised the padi planters to be provided with rice at a subsidised price but till now the subsidy has yet to be distributed.
“The farmers involved in this project call on the Department of Agriculture to investigate into the cause of the cessation of the project,” he said.
The Borneo Post has been made to understand that the project was to facilitate padi farmers in the villages of Minansut, Tangkungan, Sandapak, Tuntummulud, Sandapak, Bingkor, Kampung Baru and Bunsit to have access to modern technology and machinery in the cultivation and harvesting of padi.