Malaysia resorts to cloud seeding to save rice crop from drought

Malaysia is employing cloud seeding technology in its northern agricultural regions, known as the country's "rice bowl," to combat a severe drought. The prolonged dry weather and low rainfall have significantly impacted rice cultivation, causing delays in planting and raising concerns about future supply. Farmers have missed crucial planting phases for the "wet direct seeding" method, which requires flooded fields. While "dry direct seeding" offers an alternative with a deadline extending to June, the government is taking action to mitigate the drought's effects. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mohamad Sabu, highlighted the critical water level reductions in dams as a contributing factor to the current agricultural challenges.