KLANG: Farmer Mohd Saeh Sapaie has no choice but to continue working out in the open despite the haze.
He grows pineapples on a 0.4ha plot of land near Fasa 3 in Johan Setia, here.
It is one of the areas in the country that has been most badly affected by the haze. The 56-year-old spends close to five hours daily tending to 10,000 Yankee pineapple plants even though he is aware of the health risks of being outdoors during this period.
“It has been a routine for me to tend to my farm from noon to about 5pm daily.
“It has been like that since 2005 when I started farming.
“So, I don’t see myself changing my routine because of the haze, which affects Johan Setia annually.
“When I am out at noon, that is when the sun is the strongest and the haze could be the thickest.
“But, what can do I? I cannot abandon my plot just because of the haze.
“This is my only source of income for my family.
“I have no staff working for me so I have no choice,” said Saeh who has four children and one grandchild.
He wears an N95 mask and drinks lots of water to ensure that he is sufficiently hydrated.
He said he was thankful that he had not fallen sick or experienced throat, skin or eye irritations.
Saeh, who is the deputy chairman of Persatuan Nenas Kelompok Jaya Johan Setia, said the association’s 35 members, who farmed a total of 11.3ha of land, had been advised to take extra precautions.
“Some farmers, who are in their 60s and 70s, have temporarily stopped farming as they do not want to be exposed to the haze due to their medical conditions,” he said.
Saeh, who planted new pineapple crowns in April, said he was also doing his best to prevent bush fires from breaking out.
He said he had been building an irrigation system around his land, which would help to prevent the spread of wildfires.
Saeh has also been helping a fellow pineapple farmer to clear shrubs, grass and left over plant material from the previous harvest.
“We cannot just leave the land idle. During this hot weather, wildfires can ignite.
“Even the irresponsible act of throwing a lit cigarette can cause a huge fire here.
“We must prevent that as we do not want the API (Air Pollutant Index) to spike,” said Saeh, adding that he had been praying for rain and clear skies.
He said the federal and state governments should come up with a concerted effort to tackle the haze.
“We hope Malaysia will work with Indonesia to monitor the situation to ensure that the haze does not recur.
“Malaysian owned companies are said to have allegedly set their plantations on fire.
“They must have a sense of responsibility.
“Their actions have affected us, their own fellow countrymen. So, I do not think that is fair.”
As at 5pm today, the API reading for Johan Setia stood at 195, which is in the unhealthy category.