Rice Production in Malaysia & How Microbiome Technology Can Help in Boosting Output

Rice is among the top three crops produced in Malaysia, and it is the staple food for the majority of the population.

According to estimates, the adult population consumes 2.5 plates of white rice on average every day.

In a year, the average consumption of a Malaysian resident is approximately 82.3 kg of rice.

Unsurprisingly, the rice industry is strategically important for the Malaysian economy as it provides livelihood to lakhs of farmers.

Small scale farmers in rural areas currently use close to 7,00,000 hectares of land for rice production, with 3,00,500 hectares in Malaysian Peninsular and 190,000 hectares in Borneo Islands.

The government has taken concrete steps to modernize the industry, boost productivity and efficiency, thus helping improve the income of the farmers.

However, the growth rate of rice production has been low when compared to other rice-producing countries in Asia, such as Thailand and Bangladesh.

• Also Read: Boosting Rice Production in Bangladesh

The national average yield is low, with a little over 3 tons per hectare. Moreover, the rice production within the country can only cover 60-65% of domestic requirements.

The demand for the other 40% is thus satisfied by importing rice from other countries.

The end consumers generally purchase rice at prices between RM1.60 to RM 2.50 per kilo.

Farmers do not have a say on the pricing of rice in Malaysia as the government closely regulates retail prices.

Thus, there is a big difference between Gross and Net income among rice farmers. As a result, there is a decline in profits for farmers practicing rice farming.

But the government support and subsidies do help the farmer community.

With annual population growth of 2.7% and the present trends of rice production and consumption, there will be a significant gap between domestic supply and demand by the year 2050.

In addition, industrialization and urbanization have led to limited available farmlands.

In Malaysia, eight paddy granaries are set up with best-in-class infrastructure as part of the strategic food security plan.

There are non-granary areas as well.

Generally, the average yield in granary areas is much more than in non-granary areas due to multiple factors such as soil condition, weather patterns, irrigation, pests and diseases.

Also, there is a growing concern regarding climate change and its effects on agriculture in Malaysia.

Warmer temperatures, fluctuation in rainfall, and precipitation percentage are predicted to make the agricultural system vulnerable in different parts of Malaysia.

According to a recent study done, it is found that a 1% increase in temperature will lead to a 3.44% decrease in current paddy yield and a 0.03% decrease in paddy yield in the next season.

A 1% increase in rainfall will lead to a 0.12% decrease in the current paddy yield and a 0.21% decrease in paddy yield in the next season.

A further analysis showed that insects, soil fertility loss and cost of inputs have become major challenges in the last 5 years as it reduces the potential yield.

Thus, it is important, more than ever, to boost rice production to ensure food security using innovative solutions.

Also, sustainable methods of farming are the need of the hour to save the environment for future generations in Malaysia.

How Microbiome Technology Can Help in Boosting Rice Production

Microbiome technology harnesses the power of nature and nurtures soil microbiology.

With Organica Biotech’s pioneering microbiome enhancement technologies, farmers can increase Rice productivity in an ecological and sustainable way that protects our precious natural resources for future generations.

Organica Biotech’s Magic Gro range of products contains advanced formulations of microbes that are capable of adapting to different geo-climatic conditions.

Partner with Organica to make a lasting impact on Rice’s growing journey today.