KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians might have to brace for more than just water rationing and hot weather during the second half of the year when the El Nino weather pattern is predicted to hit the country.
El Nino, a periodic warming in the waters of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, is expected to bring about a prolonged dry spell, seriously affecting farmers who grow rice, vegetables and fruits and also adversely impact the country’s oil palm industry.
With padi farmers facing the biggest brunt, the country’s rice stockpile is expected to drop, raising questions of food security.
Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said rice growers needed a lot of water.
“We can get water for other agriculture areas but not for padi fields. Water must flood the fields and cannot be less than the needed amount,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said the ministry was making plans to brace for El Nino and had held discussions with Department of Irrigation and Drainage, rice farmers and others in the industry.
He said it was vital to identify the padi areas, explaining that situations were different in the various states.
“As the padi season and harvest cycles differ in the states we will have to look at strategies to use for methods of water retention,” he said.
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