MP: Pay RM40m compensation to Kerian padi farmers

BAGAN SERAI: Farmers in the Kerian district have urged the Federal Government to consider paying them compensation of RM39.8 million to cover the losses in padi cultivation they suffered as a result of the hot and dry weather from the El Nino phenomenon.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Agriculture Development Council (MPPP) Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali, who is also Bagan Serai MP, said the amount of compensation was based on the cost of replanting the padi borne by the farmers for each hectare and assistance of 50% of the total padi production.

“Of the total 8,097 farmers in the district, 3,175 farmers in the Bagan Serai and Parit Buntar districts have been affected as the water supply from the Bukit Merah Dam had stopped flowing.

“A total of 8,097ha of padi land out of the total of 21,108 hectares in the Kerian district are definitely affected, with the value affected amounting to RM56.4 million,” he said.

Noor Azmi was speaking to reporters at a gathering of the Parent-Teacher Associations of schools in the Bagan Serai parliamentary constituency here last night.

Noor Azmi said the compensation should be immediately given to the farmers, especially with the coming of Ramadan.

He also urged the Federal Government to consider the negative impact on the tourism industry, especially on resorts, the Pulau Orangutan, a world-renowned centre dedicated to the care of orangutans, as well as on arowana fish entrepreneurs, who were also affected by the water shortage.

Asked about Bukit Merah not being declared a disaster area, Noor Azmi said he abided by the decision of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

-BERNAMA

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