A TOTAL of 541 padi farmers in North Seberang Perai on mainland will benefit from the upgrading of its three existing electric pumps at the pumping station in Pinang Tunggal.
Penang Agriculture, Agro-based Industry, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said the improvement would ensure a better irrigation system.
With the proper irrigation system, padi could be cultivated twice a day year.
Through this, there will also be enough supply of irrigation water to be channelled to padi farms especially during hot weather.
“This is our initiative in assisting them. We are unsure when there will be a downpour but a proper irrigation system would be the best way to overcome any shortcomings.
“We are doing the right thing now” he told reporters when inspecting the pumping station in Pinang Tunggal, Kepala Batas, today.
Also present were officers from the Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA) and state Agriculture Department.
In between, Afif also urged Syarikat Air Darul Aman (SADA) in neighbouring state, Kedah, to pump at low level to ensure sufficient water supply to farms in Penang.
“We have briefed them on this,” he stressed.
Story and pix by Edmund Lee