Analysing Effect of Socio-Demographics, Paddy Management Practices, and Biotic Constraints on Paddy Productivity across Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) Regions, Malaysia

Abstract

Among the important and dynamic factors influencing paddy productivity are rising level of environmental threats and proliferations of harmful biotic factors in paddy fields. These are mainly associated with climate change and thus demand innovative management practices to mitigate. There are limited studies that examined the variations of environmental, biotic, technology use and management practices in relation to socio-economics of paddy farmers, especially in different MADA paddy regions in Malaysia. Thus, current study assesses the effect of socio-demographic, management practices (planting schedule, fertilizer application, seed rate), biotic constraints (weeds, insect pests, diseases) and environmental factors (flood, drought, wind) on paddy productivity. The study relied on 2020 NKEA and Crop Cutting Survey (CCS) data from MADA. Analysis involved both descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The result of the mean and maximum loss from each constraints indicates that animal: resulted to a average loss of 0.4% (Region 1), maximum loss of 10% (Regions 2 and 4), snails: average loss was 2.5% (Region 1) and maximum loss of 10% (Region 2) insects: the average loss was 8.5% (Region 2), while, the maximum loss was 50% (Region 2). Also, on disease, the highest average loss was 2.7% in Region 4, while the maximum loss of 50% was recorded in Region 3. For wind paddy, the average loss was 3.5% (Region 4), the maximum of 30% loss was incurred in Region 2. Weed attack resulted to a mean loss of 3.2% and maximum loss of 15% both in Region 3. Based on flood event, the mean loss was 0.2% (Region 3), the maximum loss was 15% (in Region 4). Concerning drought, the highest average loss of 0.1% and maximum loss of 10% were recorded in Region 4. The factors affecting productivity at MADA includes, land area, primary occupation of farmers, gender, educational status, management compliances, and diseases. In conclusions, efforts to minimise these constraints are critical in improving productivity and to limit food insecurity especially as climate change poses more environmental threats and disease proliferations.