THE prolonged hot weather in the country is not affecting the water supply for rice growing areas under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada).

Mada general manager Kamarudin Dahuli said the water reservoir level in Pedu Dam, Kedah is still at a comfortable level of around 73%.

“With the level of water in the dam at the moment, Mada expects that it will still be sufficient to channel water to the padi fields.

“If there is an El Nino phenomenon or extremely dry conditions, God willing we can still deal with the issue,” he told reporters after the launch of the Smart SSB Mini Sekinchan Mada-Bernas Programme in Kampung Lat 1000, Simpang Empat in Kangar today.

The programme was launched by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mohamad Sabu.

Also present were Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (Mafs) secretary-general Lokman Hakim Ali, Mafs Agricultural Industry Development Division secretary Azman Mohmood and Perlis Agriculture Exco Razali Saad.

He said to date, Mada has yet to receive any complaints from padi farmers suffering losses in padi cultivation due to the heat wave.

“About two per cent of padi farmers in the Mada area have just started planting their crops.

“Taking into account the reservoir’s level and irrigation factors under the current situation, padi fields will not dry up,” he said.

The media today reported that the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (Kada) recorded a loss of over RM2.7 million when almost 30% of padi yield in Kelantan was affected by the drought. – Bernama, May 9, 2023.