Farmers’ knowledge on potential uses of rice straw: an assessment in MADA and Sekinchan, Malaysia

Rice straw in Malaysia is presently disposed of mostly by open burning. This results in the release of various pollutants affecting the environment, weather and local communities. Yet, there are several potential uses for rice straw which can still be explored and developed to benefit Malaysia’s r...

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Main Authors: Rosmiza, MZ, Davies, WP, Rosniza Aznie, CP, Mazdi, M, Jabil, MJ
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, UKM,Bangi 2014
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7858/1/4x.geografia-okt_2014-rosmiza_etal-edam1.pdf
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author Rosmiza, MZ
Davies, WP
Rosniza Aznie, CP
Mazdi, M
Jabil, MJ
author_facet Rosmiza, MZ
Davies, WP
Rosniza Aznie, CP
Mazdi, M
Jabil, MJ
author_sort Rosmiza, MZ
collection UKM
description Rice straw in Malaysia is presently disposed of mostly by open burning. This results in the release of various pollutants affecting the environment, weather and local communities. Yet, there are several potential uses for rice straw which can still be explored and developed to benefit Malaysia’s rural economy. The present study involved 160 farmers in two of the largest granary areas of the Kedah’s Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) and the Selangor’s Sekinchan Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA). An evaluation of the knowledge level among farmers and their methods relating to straw use was undertaken. As farmers are the main actors in rice production a high knowledge level about the potential economic benefit of straw use may encourage them to utilise this by-product more competitively while also adopting more ecologically sustainable agricultural practices. This research found that most farmers knew only some of the potential uses of the straw, namely as a source of animal feed, compost, vermicompost, nursery mats for seed germination, and paper making. Farmers acquired most of this information from other farmers who had realised the potentials through involvement in straw development projects. This points to the fact that more farmers could be motivated to get directly involved in the future development of straw projects presently conducted by agricultural agencies. Better information and extension services relating to commercial straw development and management could help further these economic as well as the environmental causes of straw development.
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spelling ukm.eprints-78582016-12-14T06:45:27Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7858/ Farmers’ knowledge on potential uses of rice straw: an assessment in MADA and Sekinchan, Malaysia Rosmiza, MZ Davies, WP Rosniza Aznie, CP Mazdi, M Jabil, MJ Rice straw in Malaysia is presently disposed of mostly by open burning. This results in the release of various pollutants affecting the environment, weather and local communities. Yet, there are several potential uses for rice straw which can still be explored and developed to benefit Malaysia’s rural economy. The present study involved 160 farmers in two of the largest granary areas of the Kedah’s Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) and the Selangor’s Sekinchan Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA). An evaluation of the knowledge level among farmers and their methods relating to straw use was undertaken. As farmers are the main actors in rice production a high knowledge level about the potential economic benefit of straw use may encourage them to utilise this by-product more competitively while also adopting more ecologically sustainable agricultural practices. This research found that most farmers knew only some of the potential uses of the straw, namely as a source of animal feed, compost, vermicompost, nursery mats for seed germination, and paper making. Farmers acquired most of this information from other farmers who had realised the potentials through involvement in straw development projects. This points to the fact that more farmers could be motivated to get directly involved in the future development of straw projects presently conducted by agricultural agencies. Better information and extension services relating to commercial straw development and management could help further these economic as well as the environmental causes of straw development. Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, UKM,Bangi 2014 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7858/1/4x.geografia-okt_2014-rosmiza_etal-edam1.pdf Rosmiza, MZ and Davies, WP and Rosniza Aznie, CP and Mazdi, M and Jabil, MJ (2014) Farmers’ knowledge on potential uses of rice straw: an assessment in MADA and Sekinchan, Malaysia. Geografia : Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 10 (5). pp. 30-43. ISSN 2180-2491 http://www.ukm.my/geografia/v2/index.php
spellingShingle Rosmiza, MZ
Davies, WP
Rosniza Aznie, CP
Mazdi, M
Jabil, MJ
Farmers’ knowledge on potential uses of rice straw: an assessment in MADA and Sekinchan, Malaysia
title Farmers’ knowledge on potential uses of rice straw: an assessment in MADA and Sekinchan, Malaysia
title_full Farmers’ knowledge on potential uses of rice straw: an assessment in MADA and Sekinchan, Malaysia
title_fullStr Farmers’ knowledge on potential uses of rice straw: an assessment in MADA and Sekinchan, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Farmers’ knowledge on potential uses of rice straw: an assessment in MADA and Sekinchan, Malaysia
title_short Farmers’ knowledge on potential uses of rice straw: an assessment in MADA and Sekinchan, Malaysia
title_sort farmers knowledge on potential uses of rice straw an assessment in mada and sekinchan malaysia
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7858/1/4x.geografia-okt_2014-rosmiza_etal-edam1.pdf
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