Ismail Sabri (front left) inspects Kampung Bendang Raja which was badly affected by drought this season. — Bernama photo
PENDANG: The Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry will build tube wells as a solution to the water problems faced by a small number of farmers in several areas in Kedah each time a drought hits.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the tube wells which would suck out underground water, was the best move and would be built immediately to channel water to the padi-growing areas each time there was a drought.
“I have informed the Agriculture Drainage and Irrigation Division (BPSP) to conduct a study on the tube well. It can suck out underground water all year round, whether during ordinary time or during droughts,” he told reporters after presenting donations to farmers affected by the drought in Kampung Bendang Raja, Kubur Panjang, near here yesterday.
He said, an immediate study would be conducted on Kampung Bendang Raja which was badly affected this season, causing the farmers to lose income. The study would be to find out if the land in the area was suitable for tube wells to be dug or not.
“The better, long-term solution would be to bring water from Sungai Padang Terap, 25 km from here, by pipe and channel it to Sungai Lampam (to be released into the padi areas).
“But the project requires a huge budget, probably about RM100 million and needs quick approval to build the tube wells. If there is (underground water source), it can be dug instantly, while others require piping and so on, and takes a long time,” said Ismail Sabri.
Meanwhile, he said, the ministry would set up a special committee to address new catastrophes to obtain a report on related issues from other areas.
“Now, we only get reports from Kedah, but maybe after this, we could get from Melaka and so on. Perhaps this issue (farmers affected by drought) does not arise in other areas as they have already harvested,” he said.
Earlier, at the ceremony, Ismail presented more than RM2 million to 1,570 padi farmers who suffered a loss of income as a result of the drought this season.
Each farmer received RM1,400 for every hectare of padi land destroyed by the drought caused by the weather changes as the nation was in the middle of the North-East Monsoon.
The Kedah Farmers’ Organisation Authority had identified 1,661.84 hectares of affected padi-growing areas, involving 42 areas under 10 Farmers’ Organisation areas. — Bernama