HIGH TEMPERATURE IN MALAYSIA

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE started in from February to April 2026 and prolonged dry spells in Malaysia, particularly during El Nino-induced heatwaves, are causing significant damage to crops, reducing yields, and increasing operational costs for farmers, according to reports by the New Straits Times (NST) portal. reported that based on recent (March 2026) reports, the key impacts on Malaysian agriculture include for the Padi Production Affected in which over 13,000 hectares of padi fields in Perak (specifically Seberang Perak and Sungai Manik) have been affected by water supply shortages. Similarly, hundreds of hectares of rice fields in Kedah, Negri Sembilan, and Melaka are experiencing stunted growth and dry conditions with potential yields threatened by up to 30%–80% in extreme scenarios. In other case in which in Cameron Highlands Vegetable Yields farmers are on alert as high temperatures exceeding 30°C in the northern states indicate that warmer, drier conditions will soon hit the highlands, affecting temperate vegetable farming and reducing yields. Earlier reports noted smaller, sour strawberry harvests due to heat stress. Issue of Water Scarcity and Costs whereby the farmers are facing rising operational costs due to the need for increased water usage, including installing pumps and water tanks. In other case the mixed effects on fruits seen in which some reports indicate that prolonged heat has boosted the quality and sweetness of Harumanis mangoes (MA224) in the northern peninsula, it also poses challenges in terms of crop management, requiring more intensive irrigation to prevent wilting. The impact also occure for livestock that stress in which the high temperatures have caused livestock, such as cattle, to suffer from heat stress, with some farmers losing cattle, which in turn leads to significant economic losses. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" blog explained the issue on high temperature affect food supply in Malaysia as reported by local mainstream media.

Reported recently that the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has outlined four key initiatives to address the impact of the ongoing heatwave and supply uncertainties stemming from conflicts in the Middle East. The measures include the implementation of the dry direct seeding method for padi, increasing the national rice buffer stock, conducting cloud seeding operations, and providing financial aid to affected farmers. The Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that to mitigate the effects of the hot weather and boost dam levels, the ministry, through the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada), will roll out the dry direct seeding technique. Government also working on cloud seeding operations in hopes of inducing rain over the dam catchment areas. The affected farmers will be assessed for assistance under the Padi Crop Takaful Scheme in which the dry direct seeding method involves tilling the soil while dry before sowing seeds on the field surface. Typically used during the first planting season, the technique significantly planned to reduce water consumption. MADA previously reported that the prolonged drought and extreme heat could cause padi yields to drop by up to 30 per cent in which that high temperatures interfere with critical processes in padi formation. Mada oversees nearly 83,000 hectares of padi fields in Kedah and to ensure proactive future planning, Mohamad said the ministry's post-cabinet meeting last week approved the establishment of the National Padi and Rice Industry Consultative Committee (JKPIPB). MADA described the committee as an official platform bringing together industry players, including farmer representatives, associations, and non-governmental organisations, to resolve industry issues collectively and transparently. Meanwhile, to ensure the national rice supply remains stable amidst global uncertainty, Mohamad said the government will increase the national rice buffer stock by 100,000 metric tonnes through Padiberas Nasional Bhd. This increase will bring the total national rice buffer stock to 300,000 metric tonnes.

Malaysia's food security remains stable supported by sufficient supply and manageable affordability compared with neighbouring and regional countries. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, however, said this stable position should not lead to complacency, stressing the need for a comprehensive long-term policy framework. He said Malaysia is currently facing rising logistics costs and sharp increases in imported agricultural input prices, particularly grain, corn, and chemical fertilisers. When input costs rise, it triggers a domino effect, leading to global food price inflation. This is the burden ultimately borne by the people. Our dependence on external supply chains makes us vulnerable to global economic shocks as his speech at the launch of the National Food Security Policy 2030 (DKMN 2030). He described the current global situation as a 'perfect storm' is not a single disruption, but a combination of multiple crises occurring simultaneously, destabilising global food supply chains. He highlighted four critical factors driving the situation: extreme climate events such as prolonged droughts that dry up catchment areas, unexpected floods that submerge farms, and crop yields severely affected; increasingly complex crop and livestock diseases that are difficult to predict and control; international conflicts disrupting global fertiliser and grain supply chains, affecting price stability and domestic food supplies; and competition for land use between industrial development and the preservation of agricultural areas. Fertile land is shrinking, replaced by concrete jungles in the pursuit of modernisation and Malaysia already achieved, good self-sufficiency ratios (SSR) in several sectors, including livestock and fisheries. Malaysia are very strong in poultry meat and egg production. The 2024 SSR for chicken has reached 92.9 per cent, while eggs have reached 107 per cent. For crops, the SSR for fruits is strong at 96.8 per cent, while tropical vegetables stand at 83 per cent.

Reported that 'Rice crops stunted due to heat in which prolonged hot weather has impacted paddy plants. It is estimated that about 100 hectares of paddy fields that rely on rainwater and hill water sources have been affected nationwide due to the current hot weather. According to the  Malaysian Farmers' Association (PESAWAH) exco member Abdul Rashid Yob said prolonged hot weather has impacted paddy plants as it can cause water in the fields to diminish, resulting in dry rice paddy fields. He said this condition will affect the growth of rice plants, and when the situation worsens, the rice plants will be stunted, and the grains will become affected or non-existent. They started receiving complaints of stunted rice plants involving farmers in Perak, Negri Sembilan, and Melaka when they were unable to harvest rice according to the planting schedule. On average, their crops are over two months old, but they have to leave them in the fields because the rice plants are not bearing fruit due to the excessively dry fields and an estimated 50 farmers have been affected, and they are facing significant losses as they have already invested capital in planting rice. He said although the case does not involve many farmers, it should not be taken lightly as those affected also contribute to the country's food security and the government needs to take this matter seriously as there are forecasts that the current El Nino phenomenon-induced hot season is expected to last longer.  The hot weather will cause limited water to be available, and more farmers will be affected. Farmers in the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (Kada) also face water source problems due to the lack of a systematic irrigation system adn such problems need to be addressed from the beginning; relevant agencies need to play a role in assisting affected farmers, either by upgrading irrigation facilities or providing appropriate assistance for farmers to survive. The country will lose more rice yields for the next season due to extreme hot weather conditions.

By,
M Anem,
Senior Agronomist Expert,
Room 507, Micasa All Suite Hotel,

Kuala Lumpur, 
Malaysia.

(April 2026).