Malaysia has turned to cloud seeding to try to bring rain to its drought-hit north, where farmers have been unable to plant most of this season’s rice crop because dry weather has left fields waiting for water. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the operations this week, as the country’s biggest rice-producing region faced one of its tightest planting windows in years.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Mohamad Sabu said this year has been affected by prolonged dry weather, low rainfall and reduced dam water levels. Farmers have missed two of the three usual planting phases for wet direct seeding of rice, and only a fraction of the prepared fields have been planted even though more than 50 percent of the land is ready. Dry direct seeding remains an option until June, but it depends on rain that still has not come.
The stakes are high because rice is a staple crop in Malaysia and the country consumes about 2.5 million tonnes a year, with about half produced domestically. Most of that comes from northern peninsular Malaysia, especially Kedah, the biggest rice producer in the country. In the Muda Agricultural Development Authority areas of Kedah, the main dam reservoir for the region is at just eight percent, leaving growers with little room to wait.
Cloud seeding involves spraying particles such as silver iodide and salt into clouds from aircraft in an effort to trigger rainfall, but it only works when clouds are already present. That makes it a gamble, not a cure. The government is also rolling out temporary adjustments and mitigation measures, including programs to offset fuel costs and boost aid, while planting has not been canceled.
For farmers on the ground, the obstacle is not only water. Abdul Rashid Yob said that even where water is available, many cannot afford to proceed because costs are too high. Fitri Amit said capital has already been drained, and added that farmers would rather see support through a higher paddy price. Malaysia is trying to buy time for the season, but for now the fields in the north are still waiting for weather to do what policy cannot.
