Malaysia - Agriculture



Malaysia Agriculture 1205
Photo by: AHMAD FAIZAL YAHYA

Agriculture remains an important sector of Malaysia's economy, contributing 12 percent to the national GDP and providing employment for 16 percent of the population. The British established large-scale plantations and introduced new commercial crops (rubber in 1876, palm oil in 1917, and cocoa in the 1950s). The 3 main crops—rubber, palm oil, and cocoa—have dominated agricultural exports ever since, although the Malaysian share of the world's production of these crops declined steadily during the last 2 decades. In addition to these products, Malaysian farmers produce a number of fruits and vegetables for the domestic market, including bananas, coconuts, durian, pineapples, rice, rambutan (a red, oval fruit grown on a tree of the same name in Southeast Asia), and others. The Malaysian tropical climate is very favorable for the production of various exotic fruits and vegetables, especially since Peninsular Malaysia seldom experiences hurricanes or droughts.

As rice is a staple foodstuff in the everyday diet of Malaysians and is a symbol of traditional Malay culture, the production of rice, which stood at 1.94 million metric tons in 1998, plays an important part in the country's agriculture. However, the overall production of rice does not satisfy the country's needs, and Malaysia imports rice from neighboring Thailand and Vietnam.

In 1999, Malaysia produced 10.55 million metric tons of palm oil, remaining one of the world's largest producers. Almost 85 percent or 8.8 million metric tons of this was exported to international market. Malaysia is one of the world's leading suppliers of rubber, producing 767,000 metric tons of rubber in 1999. However, in the 1990s, large plantation companies began to turn to the more profitable palm oil production. Malaysia also is the world's fourth-largest producer of cocoa, producing 84,000 metric tons in 1999.

Logging in the tropical rainforest is an important export revenue earner in East Malaysia and in the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia. In 2000, Malaysia produced 21.94 million cubic meters of sawed logs, earning RM1.7 billion (US$450 million) from exports. Malaysia sells more tropical logs and sawed tropical timber abroad than any other country, and is one of the biggest exporters of hardwood. Despite attempts at administrative control and strict requirements regarding reforestation in the early 1990s, logging companies often damage the fragile tropical environment. Sharp criticism from local and international environmentalist groups gradually led to bans on the direct export of timber from almost all states, except Sarawak and Sabah. In December 2000, the government and representatives of indigenous and environ-mentalist groups agreed that there is a need to adopt standards set by the international Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which certifies that timber comes from well-managed forests and logging companies have to be responsible for reforestation.

User Contributions:

despite this high degree of competition, there is more government intervention in agriculture throughout the world than in virtually any other industry. if they are so perfect, why is there so much government intervention?
I want to know more details about positive and negative agriculture impact towards future in Malaysia.Beside that,I want to know about agriculture from law side.I hope you will explain more detail about my question.TQ
I would like to know about the agriculture related to clothes.
I mean to say is there any type of cultivation like cotton,jute and other cultivations related to cloth are performd there?
i wanna ask something about the pesticide especially insecticide that commonly use in Malaysia...in it the malathion insecticide? could you please state the percentage amount of malathion that use in Malaysia...tQ.
i would like to know how much total value of agriculture export in malaysia for the year 2009.tq.
6
Syed Kabir Mohan
It is known to be a fruitful knowledge to me since I really needed this information so badly and has helped me as well.Thank you.
7
shahjahan shah
I want to invest in agriculture sector in malasiya i want to know that what kind of incentives is being given by the government
Greetings,
I am an amateur in regards to this field and this field seems
to fulfill my working nature desires.
I believe the Government has plans and efforts to enhance this sector.
How can i participate or learn the right thing to get started with.

Regards
9
Mohd Sabri
Greetings,
its been an issues about the ability of Malaysia to become 100% self-sufficient country.
thus, i want to ask your opinion about why Malaysia still export commodities even though there are shortage on supply in domestic consumption. it is because of higher price or other factor that contribute to that issues?
10
Aaftab Ahmad
i want to get information about newly proposed sites to develop irrigation schemes in Malaysia
11
Omid
I want to know more details about positive and negative agriculture impact towards future in Malaysia. Beside that i want to know that How far has Agricultural industry developed from 1957 till to date? hope you help me with my question.
Thanks.
12
Tahir
iwant to know about wheat farm in malaysia.where is getting wheat farming..actually i need yellow melon brownish
13
Sobia
As rice is a staple foodstuff in the everyday diet of Malaysians so what's the drawback that Malaysia imports rice from neighboring Thailand and Vietnam.
As rice is a staple foodstuff in the everyday diet of Malaysians so what's the drawback that Malaysia imports rice from neighboring Thailand and Vietnam.
15
amromano david
is very good to have such government who cares about agriculture in the Land, it help obviously , i wish i have such government in my country, all this item rubber, palm oil, and cocoa,bananas, coconuts.and many others they are just wasted in my country. {my question how malaysia government get to this high level of agriculture?}
16
Ignacio Farenas
what is the significant of perak man in agriculture in malaysia?
17
Farooq Ansari
I want about All kind of species i mean( indian species) are avaible in Malasiya agricultural regions.. what r the Types grow here.. plz, send me in details..
18
Joseph selvam
Good morning
Wat is meaning of agriculture
Malaysian government helping for agriculture?

How to as help from out of Malaysia government
Because no help from (Jabatan pertanian dan Jabatan perikanan ) after disaster.
19
Altaf
I want to know about what type of agriculture tools used in malaysia
20
Al
where can I find lists of independent farmers in Malaysia?

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