Looming local white rice shortage

A long wait: Some padi fields in Pokok Sena, Alor Setar left empty after farmers here failed to get subsidised padi seeds.

ALOR SETAR: In five months, the country may face a severe shortage of local white rice due to unpredictable weather and the bloated price of padi seeds.

The erratic weather, said to be the result of climate change, has kept most padi farmers on their toes even though they have switched to a schedule that would allow them to harvest five times every two years.