The dilemma of Malaysian padi policy |
| |
| Authors: | P P Courtenay |
| |
| Institution: | Department of Geography , James Cook University , Townsville , Queensland 4811 |
| |
| Abstract: | Development of Malaysia's rural sector, especially of the padi growing areas, has been a major strand in national policy for over 30 years. During this period substantial increases have been achieved in both production and productivity, thanks particularly to the expansion of double cropping and the widespread use of high yielding padi varieties and associated chemical inputs. Despite this achievement, the incomes of padi households have been declining relative to national income levels, a phenomenon generally believed to be due to the fact that the average farm is too small to support a household growing padi alone, even when yields are improved. Many padi farmers have abandoned their land so that about 20 per cent of Peninsular Malaysia's padi fields now lie idle. The Malaysian government, in seeking near self‐sufficiency in padi production, has few realistic ways out of this dilemma. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
