SUNGAI BESAR, June 2 — Rising costs of production and erratic weather has drastically reduced profits of padi farmers here.

Farmer Ar Azmi Idrus, 52, said production costs had gone up in the past two years and worsened with factors such as inconsistent weather and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

“Not to mention some of us pay rent for three acres of padi fields each season, and maintenance costs, which include pesticides and additional labour,” he said.

Ar Azmi said the El Nino-induced heatwave had caused the water channels to dry up.

“In the 25 years I have been a padi farmer, I have never seen anything like this.

“Although farming in the area is segregated into several sections and harvesting scheduled to take place a month apart from one another to enable sufficient water supply to the fields, the drought has disrupted the regular routine,” he added.

On average, Sungai Besar padi farmers can produce between nine to 10 tonnes of Grade B+ rice per season.

Ar Azmi’s neighbour, Khairul Azman Hazmi, 42, said the dilemma is a first.

“The lack of water means I would have to fork out between RM120 to RM150 just to sufficiently irrigate my crops several times using diesel-powered pumps. Our pockets have been hit hard,” he said.

In the best-case scenario, the farmers can earn up to RM12,000 in gross income per half-year season and at worst, it could be under half that amount.

“It has been either borderline drought or punishing rains.

“When it rained very heavily shortly in the middle of the night two days ago, we woke up to at least 50 per cent of our newly-planted crops flattened by the impact of the rain.

“The first harvesting season has just ended, where 20 per cent of the yield was regarded as spoilt produce.

“The government has set up some initiatives, including a reservoir to irrigate the crops and a planned incentive for  farmers, but rising production and living costs since GST was introduced is another hard-hitting fact of life for us,” Khairul said.