ALOR STAR: The National Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation said the recent floods in several states will create ripple effects impacting the nation's food security, despite the affected padi crops being in the early stages of cultivation.
Chairman Abdul Rashid Yob said the organization estimated losses of between RM10 million and RM12 million in areas under the Muda Agriculture Development Authoritiy (Mada) in Kedah and Perlis.
"Damage to early-stage crops is less severe than damage to mature padi, as seen during the September floods before the harvest season. However, the cumulative effect on food security remains significant," he said.
Rashid said some farmers were affected by multiple floods.
"Some fields have been submerged three times this year, leaving these farmers without a single profit. The financial toll is overwhelming."
Rashid urged the government to expedite assistance for farmers affected by the recent and earlier floods.
"There are farmers who have not seen any returns from their crops at all this year and they haven't received the cash aid for the earlier floods either.
"Their fields remain submerged, and they need fresh capital to restart planting. Unlike other crops, padi requires substantial upfront investment," he added.
Rashid also pointed to the growing challenges posed by climate change, which he said had exacerbated the situation for padi farmers.
"Climate change has disrupted padi farming, causing erratic weather patterns and frequent flooding. This poses a serious threat to our food security."
Yesterday, Mada chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh was reported as saying some 16,000 hectares of padi fields under the authority's purview had been affected by the recent floods.
Dr Ismail said the affected area this time is significantly larger than the 6,000 hectares impacted by the September floods.
He added that the full extent of the losses would only be determined after an impact survey is completed.