Farmers race against climate change, red tape stalls food security

In Malaysia, the climate’s ebb and flow are choreographed by the Southwest and Northeast Monsoons.

From late May to September, the Southwest Monsoon ushers in drier conditions, while the Northeast Monsoon, prevailing from November to March, brings heavy rainfall - impacting regions such as the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and parts of Sarawak and Sabah.

This climatic ballet, however, encounters unpredictable partners: El Niño and La Niña. These weather phenomena introduce an element of uncertainty to the rhythm, disrupting the delicate balance between seasons.

On the peninsula’s west coast, these uncertainties amplify the challenges posed by climate change, which are acutely observed by farmers, making the pursuit of food security more difficult...