PETALING JAYA: It is still too early to say if the scorching heat in Thailand and Vietnam will affect their rice exports to Malaysia, say agricultural experts.
However, one said Malaysia should look to other source countries should the need arise.
Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) Putra Business School agricultural economist Prof Datuk Dr Mad Nasir Shamsudin said Malaysia had to be wary of droughts in countries which exported rice here.
“Although it may be too early to tell (based on weather conditions in Thailand and Vietnam), we have to learn from the severe drought experienced by Thailand in 2008, which affected rice exports to Malaysia,” he said.
Prof Mad Nasir said concerted efforts must be taken to ensure Malaysia’s rice supply reached a self-sufficient level.
“In the short-term,…
