El Nino hits rice industry

Contingency plans: With El Nino hitting the countries rice is imported from, the government may have to seek alternatives. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA: El Nino is already taking its toll on the country’s padi harvests, and with a global rice shortage looming, Malaysia is looking at importing more rice to meet domestic demand.

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.