TAMBUNAN: More than 600 padi farmers across several villages here are facing disruptions to their planting activities due to insufficient water supply caused by underperforming dams and prolonged dry weather.
Sawit Kinabalu Deputy Chairman Datuk Victor P Paut said the affected areas include Kampung Kiawayan, Masaak, Silat, Lalapakon, Nambayan, Moloson, and Solibog.
He warned that continued shortages could jeopardise rice yields and farmers' livelihoods, urging relevant authorities to take immediate action to rectify dam operations and irrigation channels.
Kampung Kiawayan Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman Justin Igid Itud noted the water supply issue is not new, having plagued local farmers for approximately six years.
Calling for a long-term solution, Kampung Lalapakon farmer Herry Kimun echoed the community's appeal for urgent repairs to restore proper irrigation so planting can proceed as scheduled.
