SYNOPSIS   

Paddy production is a key pillar of Malaysia’s food security. In the late 1980s, paddy yield and production were significantly increased with the provision of intensified irrigation infrastructure enabling double cropping. However, in the last few decades, paddy yield has stagnated due to many factors. The challenges included water resource and irrigation supply management; drainage issues; pest and disease; labor shortage etc... Climate change is envisaged to further intensify the paddy production problem due to the projected changes in temperature, rainfall, evaporation, river flow, water levels, sea level rise, and CO2 concentration. This webinar will provide an overview of the climate change projection scenarios focusing on parameters affecting paddy yield. A review of local and international studies on climate change impacts on rice production and the uncertainties in climate projections will be discussed. The webinar will also present the current problems of paddy production due to irrigation water management; propose mitigation measures to strengthen resilience and sustain Malaysia’s paddy sector under future climate conditions.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Ir. Chong Sun Fatt

Ir. Chong Sun Fatt is a Professional Engineer (PEPC in Civil) with 48 years of experience in hydrology, hydraulics, irrigation and water resources engineering. He served in the Department of Irrigation and Drainage for 26 years before cofounded Global Water Consultants Sdn Bhd. Currently he is the Principal Adviser of GWC. Ir. Chong has been involved in hundreds of water-related projects nationwide and overseas. His expertise includes water resources studies; flood forecasting and flood mitigation; irrigation planning and design; agriculture and urban drainage; dam hydrology and hydraulics; water quality and groundwater modelling; ESCP; IRBM; climate change impact assessment and others.