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Climate Change and

Agriculture:
Adaptation and Mitigation
Country Report: MALAYSIA

INTRODUCTION

Malaysia is situated in Southeast Asia, stretching through latitude and


longitude of 4.1936 N, 103.7294 E.

Malaysia covers an area of 330,803 square kilometers.

Two main geographical region separated by the South China Sea: Peninsular
Malaysia in the West, lying between Thailand and Singapore, and the states
of Sabah and Sarawak located in the northern part of the Island of Borneo.

The capital city of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur; meanwhile Putrajaya is the


administrative center.

Total population as of 2013 is at 29.7 million people with 13.2 million labor
forces.

Map of Malaysia

Climate

Malaysia is a humid tropical country which is characterized by an


annual monsoons wind from southeast from April to October and
northeast winds from November to March.

The average annual rainfall is 2420 mm/year in Peninsular Malaysia;


2630 mm/year in Sabah and 3850 mm/year in Sarawak.

The monthly mean temperature is at 25C to 28C in the coastal


lowlands.

Relative humidity is 75 to 90%.

Climate change in Malaysia

Mean surface temperature increasing 0.18C per decade for over 40 years
since 1951 (MOSTE, 2000)

There is a significant reduction of annual precipitation; meanwhile, there is an


increase of one hour rainfall intensity by 17% by comparing 2000-2007 value to
the 1970s value (NAHRIM, 2010) causing increase frequencies of drought and
flooding.

This can be seen with 2007 floods in Johor the southern state of Peninsular
Malaysia and prolong water rationing due to water shortage of 1998 and 2014
in Klang Valley at central Selangor comprising Kuala Lumpur and its
surroundings cities.

Rising of sea level 4.6 cm to 11.9 cm, satellite altimetry data of 1993 to 2010
(NAHRIM, 2010).

Annual Mean Temperature

CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECT ON


AGRICULTURE SECTOR

It was estimated that with the changes in average temperature and rainfall,
key crops like oil palm, rubber and rice as well as other agricultural activities
like animal husbandry and aquaculture will be affected.

High temperature and diminished rainfall reduce soil moisture, thus reducing
the irrigation capabilities and impairing the crop growth.

Increased in temperature and changes in rainfall pattern could help the


spread of fungus and diseases directly or indirectly such as Phytopthora sp.
in rubber plantation, thus affecting yield.

Increase in rainfall intensity significantly reduces rubber production.

Oil palm can be negatively affected by two scenario: long duration drought
and increased in severe rainfall that cause flooding.

CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECT ON AGRICULTURE


SECTOR

Problem in sustaining the rice ecosystem and it will jeopardize security


of food supply. Rice grain yields also may decline by 9 to 10% with each
degree Celsius mean temperature rise.

Water shortages could delay and disrupt paddy planting season.


(322,000 hectare of irrigated paddy fields and another 278,000 hectare
of rain-fed paddy fields)

Climate change has affected livestock production mainly due to its


impact on grassland, livestock food source and increase in favorable
zones for vector (eg: Japanese encephalitis ) Heat distress suffered by
animals will reduce its feed intake and poor resistance to diseases.

Adaptation and mitigation

Malaysia adopts precautionary principles to adapt and mitigate to the effects of climate
change. Adaptation has gained prominence as more appropriate measures due to the
facts that some impacts are now unavoidable in the short and long term.

Mitigation measures are still necessary to as long term actions is taken to insure a better
future risk.

At the national level, Malaysia has formed a National Steering Committee on Climate
Change (NSCCC) (Strategies: policies on energy usage, public awareness on climate
change, food supply and effective forest and coastal mgt)

Department of Agriculture (DOA) have produced an agro-climatic map of Peninsular


Malaysia based on soil (soil-crop suitability) and climatic (agriculture rainfall index (ARI))
characteristics for planning purposes.

Soil Crop Suitability Classification for Peninsular Malaysia system also has been published
by the DOA to help planners, scientist and farmers.

Adaptation and mitigation

Development and introduction of better rice varieties which have the characteristics of
drought resistance, having short maturing time (i.e.: MR211)

Introduction of an aerobic rice production system where rice is grown in well-drained


soil condition and with minimum use of water. The variety, MRIA 1, does promise a low
water consumption planting method and useful as a good paddy production variety in
an area without irrigation infrastructures or with limited water sources.

Optimization of water management through efficient irrigation management and


techniques is one of the priorities given in adaptation measures taken.

Preservation of forest reserves and water catchment areas to ensure adequate water
supply for agriculture is one of the important measures taken by the government.

The multiple impacts of climate change could significantly reduce the effectiveness of
current Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies leading to higher crop losses.

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