FACTORS FOR LOW PADI YIELDS IN MALAYSIA

PADDY (Oryza sativa) in Malaysia was grown as an important crop for about 600,000 ha annually. Paddy or unmilled rice is Malaysia's third most important cultivated crop after oil palm and rubber. Malaysia produces more than 2.43 million tons of paddy annually in which is equivalent to around 1.68 million tons of rice. In 2023 reported that the production volume of paddy was approximately 2.17 million metric tons form various states especially from granary area.  However some factors including uncertain weather, pest attacks cited as among factors for low padi yields in Malaysia. For few years recently reporteg that uncertain weather patterns combined with the effects of pest attacks have been identified as among the factors that inflicted the country's padi yields production during the past three harvesting seasons. This article I like to write about some factors affected paddy yield in Malaysia. 

The country's padi yields currently reported as registered a drop of between an estimated 3 - 5% since early last year in which in turn reduced the supply of white rice in the local market by almost 10%. Acusations that the rice supply shortage in the market was due to the irresponsible action of rice millers or wholesalers hoarding their supply of the staple food. Suspected that the shortage was the result of some case irresponsible action by some rice wholesalers who engaged in price manipulations by switching the labels of the rice from local to imported. Such tactics are believed to be happening since there is no mechanism to regulate or control the price of imported rice. On the other hand, the price of local rice has been set at RM26 for the 10kg bag as reported by the New Straits Times Press (NSTP). There are also blamed other factors which resulted in the reduction of padi yields in the country. Among them included lands meant for padi fields being used for other purposes such as housing and industrial area. The drop in padi yield is an issue that must be addressed by the respective state governments immediately. It was reported that Malaysians may need to fork out an extra RM21 a month on imported white rice following the move by Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) to increase by 36% from RM2,350 per metric tonne to RM3,200 the price of the product recently. A wholeller said the rise meant a RM7 price hike for a 10kg bag of rice and it was a base calculation on a family of five. Following this, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has instructed padi millers and rice wholesalers to increase the supply of local white rice by 20%, through the Local White Rice Special Programme and to restore supply in the market. The ministry said the request had been agreed upon by padi millers and rice wholesalers in a joint engagement session with the North Zone Rice Manufacturers and Rice Wholesalers Industry on Aug 27 in Alor Star, Kedah recently. Through this approach Bernas will give the additional quota professionally.

In other issue reported that 'Many paddy farmers have health problems due to improper use of pesticide' related to this topic. Many of those working in the agriculture sector, especially paddy farmers, were found to have signs of health problems due to improper use of pesticide. According to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health and Health (DOSH) director-general said the findings were based on a recent research on the exposure of agriculture chemicals among paddy farmers in the Peninsular Malaysia by selected researches from Universiti Utara Malaysia. The research also revealed that a large number of paddy farmers were found to have not received any kind of training on the proper use of pesticides. Among the farmers, information on the proper use of pesticide was usually obtained from the pesticide sellers or other farmers. NST reported that the farmers were also found to be unaware of the hazard and risk of not using the pesticide properly and many ignore the importance on the proper and complete clothing and protective equipment. As a result, they are exposed to various health risks. They noted that the agriculture sector recorded the second highest in the country on cases involving industrial accidents, after manufacturing. Issue on last year in which there were a total of 42 deaths, nine cases involving permanent disability and 441 cases involving temporary disability throughout the country in the agriculture sector alone. There were a total of two deaths reported, two cases involving permanent disability and 69 cases involving temporary disability throughout the country. In Kedah alone, there were seven cases involving temporary disability last year and five cases this year. There are few  programme to provide the farmers and breeders with the knowledge on the research done and the proper use of pesticide, among others.

Local media reported in which 'CAP concerns over KADA rice yield decline' relevan to this article.  The arid condition of the padi fields in the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA) area has affected the income of farmers, leading to a decline in the country's rice production. The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has urged the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to take immediate action to overcome the problems faced by padi farmers in the Kemubu Agricultural Development Board (KADA) in Kelantan. Actually this action is necessary to boost their income and the country's rice production. According to CAP president known as Mohideen Abdul Kader said besides infrastructure being one of the causes of the decline in rice yields in KADA, the depletion of rice padi land due to the implementation of development projects also contributed to the lack of rice yield in the area. He said other contributing factors included threat of floods, droughts, pest attacks and loose rice padi soil.  While the rice yield in the area exceeded the national average of 4.1 metric tonnes per hectare, he said KADA still lagged behind Selangor's yield of 4.32 metric tonnes, the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA)'s 4.24 metric tonnes, and Penang's 5.05 metric tonnes per hectare. The imperfect irrigation system and its ineffective functioning of it have caused several padi fields in KADA to face imminent threat. Many rice stalks are stunted in growth and destroyed due to episodes of drought and floods. In May 2023 reported that about 7,800ha of rice crops in the (KADA) area were affected due to the hot weather in Kelantan. And in December the same year, KADA suffered a RM17 million loss due to the destruction of rice stalks inundated by flood waters. In 2022, due to problems with the drainage system, 1,000ha of padi land became loose and KADA lost 4,200 metric tonnes of rice.  This incident is of great concern to CAP and if it is not dealt with immediately, more padi land will not be able to be cultivated and will be abandoned. In order to save the future source of income and livelihood of 7,648 padi farmers and maintain the 25,149 hectares of padi fields in KADA, CAP hoped that the ministry would take immediate action on the causes of the problems. CAP also urged the departments and agencies involved to pay serious attention to the effects of pesticides and the usage of heavy machinery that could threaten the environment and affect padi fields. CAP believes that if the problems continue, not only will the KADA padi farmers experience hardship, but the food supply for the people and the country's agricultural sector will also be affected. It was reported last month that KADA had taken the proactive step of providing an additional 150 units of pumps this year to overcome the anticipated water supply challenges caused by the El Nino phenomenon. KADA said these pumps would be deployed according to farmers' current needs, covering 26,000ha of padi fields across six KADA padi planting districts. Thanks.

By,

M Anem,

Malacca,

Malaysia.

(December 2024).