The rise in price for imported rice in Malaysia saw consumers chasing cheaper locally grown products - but Malaysia isn't producing enough rice to support our local demand. In the village of Long Semadoh in Sarawak though, rice is abundant in both variety and amount - they grow what is known as heirloom rice. Environmental journalism portal Macaranga recently released an in-depth article on this, called "Sowing Seeds of Resilience in Heirloom Rice" which looks at heirloom rice farming in Sarawak, and its contributions to addressing food security concerns and safeguarding heirloom rice varieties. We discuss the history and future of heirloom rice farming in Malaysia, and what steps can be taken to further enhance its contribution to food security and economic development in rural areas with Liani MK (contributing writer, Macaranga), Wong Siew Lyn, (Editor, Macaranga) and Peter Tadam, a tour guide from the farming community of Long Semadoh, Sarawak.


Image Credit: Shutterstock/Abang Faizul

The rise in price for imported rice in Malaysia saw consumers chasing cheaper locally grown products - but Malaysia isn't producing enough rice to support our local demand. In the village of Long Semadoh in Sarawak though, rice is abundant in both variety and amount - they grow what is known as heirloom rice. Environmental journalism portal Macaranga recently released an in-depth article on this, called "<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.macaranga.org/sowing-seeds-of-resilience-in-heirloom-rice/">Sowing Seeds of Resilience in Heirloom Rice</a>" which looks at heirloom rice farming in Sarawak, and its contributions to addressing food security concerns and safeguarding heirloom rice varieties. We discuss the history and future of heirloom rice farming in Malaysia, and what steps can be taken to further enhance its contribution to food security and economic development in rural areas with Liani MK (contributing writer, Macaranga), Wong Siew Lyn, (Editor, Macaranga) and Peter Tadam, a tour guide from the farming community of Long Semadoh, Sarawak. Image Credit: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/sarawak-malaysia-may-27-2023-sarawakian-2310031601">Shutterstock/Abang Faizul</a>

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

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