The scorching weather brought on by the El Nino phenomenon has already affected the rice planting season and harvest in Kedah, the main rice producer in the country along with Selangor.
Thailand has traditionally been the major rice exporter to Malaysia, but that country is reportedly drawing up contingency plans to deal with a severe drought that might last years and reduce the world rice supply. However, he emphasised that imported rice accounts for only 35% of the overall rice volume, with local rice accounting for the remaining 65%.