Barriers to Sustainable Rice Farming and Food Security in Malaysia’s Primary Granary Zones

This study is an effort to explore and investigate the issues and challenging are facing rice production and food security in Malaysia. It is also to identify the contribution of the main granary areas in Malaysia to the national food security. The important of rice as a staple food crop in Malaysia and is currently grown on 637,935 ha of land, producing annually 2.2 million tons of paddy grain valued at RM 2 million, which is contribute with average growth rate of 1.1% of year, in the last five years. However, the current country’s self-sufficiency level for rice production is still at 63% and the 37% balance are imported from other countries abroad. Efforts are being undertaken by government to increase the productivity, cropping intensity prediction and crop acreage to cope with the growing demand for the produce in Malaysia. This study examines the various issues of rice production for food security and analyses the challenging of rice production in Malaysia. Various rice production policies, strategies and programs will be thoroughly analyzed to achieve the objectives of the study that have been set. Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA), Kemasin Semerak and North Terengganu (KETARA), Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) and Integrated Agriculture Development Area (IADA) in Peninsular Malaysia and in Borneo are among the granary areas, which emphasized on paddy cultivation to the country. The role of the granary areas important to enhance the self-sufficiency level of rice in Malaysia. Issues and challenges related to rice production, food security and self-sufficiency are discussed. Various efforts and government intervention have been implemented to ensure that these areas will remain as the important granary areas. Several approaches to improving productivity, stability and food security in food production as well as outlining the agenda to ensure the country’s food supply are discussed.