KUBANG PASU: Flooding since Monday has wiped out around 1,276 metric tonnes of padi harvests across 232 hectares in the Lubuk Batu Farmer's Organisation Area (PPK).
Lubuk Batu PPK chairman Harun Ramli described the deluge as the worst in 14 years, affecting all 93 padi farmers within the PPK, and causing an estimated loss of RM2,296,800.
"The PPK consists of seven units — Sungai Baru, Lubuk Batu, Wang Tepus, Lembah Arang, Padang Luar, Kelubi, and Kota Mengkuang. All were impacted, and all the padi crops were wiped out—it's a complete loss," he said when met at the Lubuk Batu PPK Hall flood relief centre today.
Harun, 72, who oversees one hectare of padi land, said each farmer could lose at least RM9,900 per hectare.
"This is the worst flooding since 2010. While my house in Kampung Padang Luar remains unaffected, others are submerged, leaving only the rooftops visible," he added.
Megat Asmadi Megat Saidin, 52, a tractor operator and padi farmer, reported personal losses exceeding RM180,000, as his 19ha in Kampung Padang Luar were fully submerged.
"My losses go beyond that, as I also provide ploughing services for most farmers here. Given the situation, they may not be able to repay their service debts," he said.
He urged the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to expedite emergency assistance.
Meanwhile, Kedah Farmers' Organisation Authority deputy director Nor Rahila Mohd Yusof said food baskets had been given to the affected farmers and a flood relief centre had been opened.
"In collaboration with the Welfare Department, we have opened a flood relief centre which has been sheltering 116 victims from 47 families since Monday," she said.