In Kuala Linggi, Melaka, a pineapple farm at Nusa Dusun Orchard Resort experienced flooding due to heavy rainfall, leading to an estimated loss of RM150,000 for farmer Iskandar Zulkarnain. The floodwaters, reaching knee-deep levels, submerged five plots over 2.83 hectares, affecting 75,000 MD2 pineapple plants. This incident could influence state production levels, given the farm's status as the largest pineapple producer in Melaka.
The flood, lasting more than 48 hours, posed significant threats to the crop, with water and weeds being the main concerns. Iskandar, who has been in the pineapple farming business for six years, highlighted that this was the second flood event since last year, marking it as the most severe he has encountered. The flooding may also disrupt his supply chain to local hotels.
Iskandar has reached out to the Alor Gajah Municipal Council (MPAG) and the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) seeking assistance. He attributed the flooding partly to inadequate maintenance of the drainage and irrigation systems at the resort, which is a mixed-development area combining residential, agricultural, and tourism sectors. The area's management issues and neglected land have led to blocked drainage channels, further exacerbating the flooding problem.
Source: thesun.my