KEPALA BATAS: The current hot and dry weather has forced farmers in Seberang Perai to cultivate alternative crops. Padi farmer Mohd Yusri Mustafa, 42, said the drought had caused the yield of padi under the Padang Tembusu Area Farmers Organisation (PPK) in Penaga, near here, to drop by 40% or RM30,000. “I have planted about 600 papaya trees on a 1.52ha piece of land and, since it was my first time (planting papaya trees), it cost me about RM15,000, including irrigation, ” said the father of four. He hoped authorities like the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) and PPK would improve their existing agricultural strategies to help farmers affected by the drought and the pandemic. The low water pressure has also caused the planting of seedlings to be postponed, ” he said.

Source: The Star March 05, 2021 23:37 UTC