KUBANG PASU: Arman Majid, 58, was overcome with emotion as he described the flood damage to his padi fields in Kampung Paya Tok Teh here.
Arman's heart sank as he witnessed his golden padi fields, the fruits of his labour, succumb to the floods. He had poured RM100,000 into cultivating 36 "relung" (10.3ha) of land.
"Like it or not, we (padi farmers) still have to rent harvesting machinery to harvest the crop because we need to prepare the plot for the next cultivation round due by next month.
"The padi millers will pay only half the market price for the ruined crop. Most likely, I will just feed the produce to chickens," said the seasoned farmer in a subdued tone.
Arman is one of the 189 padi farmers under the Asun Farmers Area Organisation (PPK), who suffered a severe blow after their crop, which was ready for harvesting, was submerged by the floods.
In total, 972 PPK farmers toiling on some 1,500ha of padi fields under the purview of the Farmers Organisation Authority (LPP) in Kedah were hit by the floods.
LPP chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar has estimated the total losses suffered by the farmers in 11 affected PPK areas were RM13.5 million.
Earlier, Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said nearly 5,900ha of padi fields under its purview in Kedah and Perlis have been submerged by last week's floods.
The floods have wiped out 29,500 tonnes of padi crop in Mada areas, based on the average five tonnes yield for each hectare.
Based on the current RM1,800 per tonne purchasing price by the millers, the losses are estimated at RM53 million.
This brings the accumulated crop losses in Mada and LPP padi fields areas to 37,000 tonnes, equivalent to RM66.6 million based on the current purchasing price.
Last week's flood, which caused the worst damage to Kedah's padi sector in two decades, has not only devastated Malaysia's staple food supply but has also demoralised farmers.
These farmers hoped the government would expedite the process of disbursing cash aid to help fund the cost of tilling the land for the next cultivation season.
"After suffering this devastating blow, I felt it was not worth it to continue working on the padi field.
"I am toiling 10.3ha of padi field, but at the most, the government will only pay maximum compensation for three hectares.
"Furthermore, the amount is calculated based on a padi purchasing floor price of RM1,350 per tonne.
"I don't know how I'm going to raise RM100,000 if I were to continue working in the padi field, given the rising input costs and machinery rental fees," he said.
His concern is shared by another farmer, Murni Majid, 60, who suffered a blow after the floods ravaged her crop in a 4.5ha padi field that she rents.
"Everything is lost. I don't even know whether I should continue working on the padi field after suffering this total loss," said the single mother who is supporting a child who is studying at the Universiti Malaysia Perlis.
In Pendang, 74-year-old Yaakob Ahmad from Kampung Alor Pudak said some padi farmers had given up on toiling on their padi fields due to persistent flooding problems.
"This is the third season in a row I have not earned anything from the padi fields due to floods.
"This time, it is even worse as the crop was just days away from being harvested," said Yaakob, one of the farmers who works on padi fields in Mada areas.