Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
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MALAYSIA consists of a peninsula, bordering Thailand in <strong>the</strong> north, and <strong>the</strong> northwestern<br />
side of <strong>the</strong> island of Borneo, with a tot<strong>al</strong> of 330,000 km 2 and a population of 21.8 million. Most<br />
of <strong>the</strong> peninsula is covered in tropic<strong>al</strong> <strong>for</strong>est, much of it on a centr<strong>al</strong> mountain range. Coast<strong>al</strong><br />
plains dominate <strong>the</strong> Borneo states and <strong>the</strong> interior is mountainous. About a quarter of <strong>the</strong><br />
work<strong>for</strong>ce is engaged in agriculture; 3% of <strong>the</strong> land is arable. Agriculture is 12% of <strong>the</strong> GDP.<br />
Gener<strong>al</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />
• GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 8,330<br />
• Intern<strong>al</strong> renewable water re<strong>source</strong>s: 456 km 3<br />
• Main food consumed: rice, oil and fat, sugar<br />
and honey, wheat, meat<br />
• <strong>Rice</strong> consumption, 1999: 88.4 kg milled rice<br />
per person per year<br />
Production constraints<br />
Yield has remained more or less unchanged<br />
during <strong>the</strong> last five years and is still low<br />
regardless of <strong>the</strong> large percentage of irrigated<br />
areas. There are sever<strong>al</strong> constraints to sustainable<br />
rice production in M<strong>al</strong>aysia:<br />
• Periodic drought even under irrigation<br />
because of erratic rainf<strong>al</strong>l<br />
• Intrusion of seawater in low-lying rice fields<br />
• Weeds: red rice because of <strong>the</strong> adoption of<br />
direct seeding; insects: brown planthopper,<br />
stem borer, and green leafhopper; and<br />
diseases: blast and rice tungro virus<br />
• Labor shortage because of high labor wages<br />
in rur<strong>al</strong> areas<br />
• Unfavorable prices of rice compared with<br />
those of o<strong>the</strong>r food products<br />
Production season<br />
Planting Harvesting<br />
Main season, Peninsular Sep-Oct Nov-Mar<br />
Main season, Sabah Jun-Aug Jan-Mar<br />
Main season, Sarawak Oct-Nov Mar-Apr<br />
188 <strong>Rice</strong> <strong>al</strong>manac