Kerian rice farmers fear another irrigation delay as dam levels drop
Rice farmers in Malaysia's Kerian district say a two-week irrigation delay tied to critically low Bukit Merah Dam levels is threatening planting schedules, yields and farm cash flow.
Rice farmers in Kerian, Perak, say the current hot spell is creating a new production risk for the coming paddy season because water levels at Bukit Merah Dam have fallen to a critical range. According to The Star, the condition of the dam has already forced a postponement of irrigation water deliveries for the next planting cycle. In an area where field preparation, transplanting and harvest timing depend heavily on scheduled releases, even a short delay can ripple through the whole season.
Farmer and Parit Abas unit chief Ishak Yunus, 66, said growers had already spent money on land preparation and paddy seed purchases before the timetable changed. Water was originally due to be released on March 25, but the date was moved to April 8. Farmers now fear the start could slip again if there is no meaningful rainfall. Ishak said yields have already dropped sharply, and if planting moves back, harvesting will also be pushed back, leaving households with no fixed income under even more strain.
Growers in the Kuala Kurau area are already adjusting their field strategy to limit losses. Shaiful Shahrin Ahmad Pauzi, 42, said farmers are switching to more resilient paddy varieties and trying to avoid draining water from the fields in order to reduce the risk of shortages. Another farmer, Mohd Ehsan Khairudin, 41, said delayed irrigation raises herbicide costs because weeds develop faster, and it can also reduce seed germination quality when seed has to be stored for too long. He added that many farmers are under deferred payment arrangements, so much of the financial burden is only settled after harvest.
Perak Irrigation and Drainage Department director Dr Asnor Muizan Ishak said the Kerian department recommended a two-week postponement for compartments that have not yet started planting. The proposal was discussed at a water supply rescheduling meeting chaired by the Kerian Integrated Agricultural Development Area and was accepted based on the dam's current Critical Irrigation Level 1 status. The department said Bukit Merah Dam was at 6.995 metres, below the alert level of 7.62 metres, while the normal operating level for irrigation supply is 8.69 metres.
Officials say the situation now requires continuous monitoring, disciplined water release management and prudent use of the remaining resource. Asnor Muizan said changes to the water schedule, together with alternative sources such as pumps, are crucial to keep irrigation supply sustainable through the dry period. For paddy farms in Kerian, that means the next few weeks will determine whether the season can stay on track or whether another delay will further cut output, raise input costs and push revenue farther into the year.