Effects of climate change on local rice production

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Gas sampling (greenhouse gaseous) during mid season of rice cultivation.

RICE, a global staple food is one among major agricultural crops in Malaysia after oil palm, rubber and cocoa. The production of rice is largely dependent on an efficient irrigation system which will be greatly affected by climate change.

Climate change has led to tremendous effects on the yield of rice in the country. The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute’s (MARDI) Climate Change Programme Deputy Director Mohammad Hariz Abdul Rahman, says the global temperature rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius is expected to reduce rice yield in Malaysia by 30-percent.

In an interview with the BFM radio recently, Hariz said