KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -- Devastating floods in Malaysia's northern states have submerged more than 38,000 hectares of paddy fields, farmers and authorities said, affecting major rice-producing areas and leaving farmers grappling with heavy losses.
Malaysia and Thailand have been hit by the worst flooding in decades, with dozens dead and hundreds of thousands displaced, and authorities have warned of more heavy rain this week. Around 12,600 hectares of paddy fields have been flooded in the northwestern state of Kedah, which accounts for about half of Malaysia's rice output, Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation treasurer Muhamad Rafirdaus Abu Bakar said.
"In Kedah, this is the third time in two months we are experiencing floods. The paddies affected by the floods have just been planted. They are only a day to a month old," he said.
State media agency Bernama reported that more than 26,000 hectares of paddy fields in the northeastern state of Kelantan were damaged after being submerged by floods.
Kelantan Farmers Association chairman Zuha Ismail was quoted as saying that most affected areas had been recently planted with seeds, and some were awaiting harvest.
He said farmers in Kelantan had been unable to plant paddy for three consecutive seasons, incurring losses amounting to thousands of ringgit.
In Kedah, Muhamad Rafirdaus said around 6,000 farmers had been impacted by the floods. He said so far there had been no government support and that previous flooding payments of 1,000 ringgit ($224) hadn't covered losses.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said in a Facebook post on Sunday that the government is committed to studying types of assistance for farmers, including financial assistance and post-flood recovery support.
"The total amount of losses in the agricultural sector in Kelantan due to the floods is estimated to exceed 16 million ringgit," he said. "This figure is expected to increase once our survey is completed."
