Sandakan: The hot weather phenomenon affecting 17 areas in the country, including here, has not only limited the daily activities of the community but also affected the agricultural sector's output.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, vegetable grower Firyanus Salamba, 33, said the prolonged hot weather has started to directly affect the agricultural and nursery sectors due to the challenge of maintaining moisture levels in crops. 'I have had to water vegetables such as okra, sweet shoots, and mustard greens three times a day - in the morning, afternoon, and evening - compared to only once a day in normal weather. Despite being watered three times a day, yields have still declined. Chilli plants, especially, are very difficult to survive due to the extremely hot conditions,' he said when met by Bernama at his vegetable farm in Batu 7 here today.

Today, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) issued a Level 1 hot weather alert, or the alert category, for 17 areas nationwide following an increase in daily maximum temperatures. Meanwhile, a Bernama survey found that flower nursery operators were experiencing similar effects as they had to water flowering plants at least twice a day to prevent the flowers from wilting and dying due to the extreme heat.

MetMalaysia said in a statement that the Level 1 (cautionary category) status is issued when the daily maximum temperature in an area reaches 35 to 37 degrees Celsius for at least three consecutive days. It added that 11 of the affected areas are in Peninsular Malaysia, namely Larut and Matang, Kuala Kangsar, Kampar and Batang Padang in Perak; Kuala Krai in Kelantan; Kuantan, Raub, Temerloh and Pekan in Pahang; as well as Hulu Selangor and Gombak in Selangor. Meanwhile, the five areas in Sabah placed under the same status are Telupid, Tenom, Sandakan, Pitas and Beluran, while Marudi is the only affected area in Sarawak.