Crisis driven by climate change: Farmers quarrel over water for crops

The Kinta Valley in Perak was an important tin mining area and, until the 1980s, helped make Malaysia the supplier of half of the world’s tin.

Mining operations left plenty of mining lakes in the area and these lakes eventually became an important water source for farmers in the valley.

Climate change has, however, disrupted Malaysia’s weather pattern, leading to more droughts and rainstorms that have impacted crop production.

A rare but long drought happened between January to March 2020, and the former tin mining lakes dried up after more than a month of no rain.

In order to keep their crops growing, the farmers were forced to fight among themselves for water. Others had to give up their harvests...