This study aims to identify the relationship between the production, socioeconomic and environmental factors, and the sustainable livelihood outcomes of the farmers in Sarawak. The research was carried out in ten sites across the Miri and Kuching divisions. This research conducted a qualitative analysis that utilised an empirical approach. Interviews were conducted with thirty selected respondents to acquire information about rice production and livelihood strategies. The study indicated that land size, capital, subsidies, and incentives significantly influence rice output and farmers' livelihoods. Consequently, governmental action to standardise the Guaranteed Minimum Price rate between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia is vital for enhancing the farmers' income. Paddy cultivation land must be conserved and formally designated to avert its transformation into cash crop plantations and to ensure the viability of paddy agriculture in Sarawak. This study emphasises the significance of equitable rice pricing and land preservation for paddy farmers in Sarawak. It underscores the necessity of considering issues beyond output levels in the pursuit of sustainable living and the mitigation of climate change. Ultimately, governmental involvement and contemporary agricultural practices will be necessary to guarantee food security, enhance the quality of life for farmers, and assure the sustainable profitability of paddy cultivation in Sarawak.
Alam, M. M., Siwar, C., Molla, R. I., Toriman, M. E., & Talib, B. (2011). Climate Change And Vulnerability of Paddy Cultivation in North-West Selangor, Malaysia: A Survey Of Farmers’ Assessment. Voice nof Academia, Vol. 6(1), pp. 45-56. (ISSN 1985-5079).
Alam, M. M., Chamhuri, S., Molla, R. I., & Talib, B. A. (2019). Paddy Farmers’ Adaptation Practices to Climatic Vulnerabilities in Malaysia. doi:10.31219/osf.io/3jmcv
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012). Thematic analysis. 57-71. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269930410_Thematic_analysis
Echoh, D., Nor, N., Salfarina, A., & Masron, T. (2017). Issues and Problems Faced by Rural Farmers in Paddy. Cultivation: A Case Study of the Iban Paddy Cultivation in Kuala Tatau, Sarawak. Journal of Regional and Rural Development Planning, 1 (2): 174-182.
FAO. (2021). Rice Production in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues and Perspectives. Retrieved from https://www.fao.org/3/x6905e/x6905e04.htm
Hasanthika, W. K., Edirisinghe, J., & Rajapakshe, R. (2013). Climate Variability, Risk and Paddy Production. Journal of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka, 57-65.
Idris, N. D., & Siwar, C. (2015). From poverty reduction to poverty relief: Impact of non-farm income in Integrated Agriculture Development Area (IADA) Samarahan,. Idris, N.D., & Siwar, C. (2015). From poverty reduction to poverty relief: Impact of non-farm income in IntegratGeografia: Malaysian journal of society and space, 11, 32-41.( issue 1 (32 - 41)). Retrieved from http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8886/1/4ok.geografia-jan15-nordiana-edam.pdf
Jamaludin, N. L., Amer, A., & Hasan, H. F. (2010). A Study on Factors Affecting Rice Production in Malaysia. Conference: 1st. International Conference on Arts, Social Sciences and Technology iCAST 2010. Pulau Pinang.
John, A., & Fielding, M. (2014). Rice production constraints and ‘new’ challenges for South Asian smallholders: insights into de facto research priorities. Agriculture & Food Security volume 3.
Omar, S. C., Shaharudin, A., & Tumin, S. A. (2018). The Status of the Paddy and Rice Industry in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur : Khazanah Research Institute (KRI).
Rahmat, S. R., Firdaus, R., Shahrudin, S. M., & Ling, L. Y. (2019). Leading key players and support system in Malaysian Paddy Production Chain. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 15.
Reddy, D., & Venkatanrayana, M. (2013). Declining Labour Use in Agriculture : A Case of Rice Cultivation in Andhra Pradesh. Employment/Labour in India. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.16594.04809
Saisema, & Pagdee, A. (2015). Ecological and Socioeconomic Factors That Affect Rice Production in Saline Soils, Borabue, Mahasarakham, Thailand: Implications for Farm Management Practices. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 39(1). doi:10.1080/21683565.2014.931902
Saptomo, S. K., Setiawan, B. I., & Yuge, K. (2009). Climate change effects on paddy field thermal environment and evapotranspiration. Paddy and Water Environment, 7(4):341-347. doi:10.1007/s10333-009-0184-8
Scoones, I. (1998). Sustainable Rural Livelihoods. A Framework for Analysis. IDS Working Paper 72. Institute of Development Studies.
Silva, M. M., & Kawasaki, A. (2018). Socioeconomic Vulnerability to Disaster Risk: A Case Study of Flood and Drought Impact in a Rural Sri Lankan Community. Ecological Economics, 152:131-140.
Takama, T., Setyani, P., & Aldrian, E. (2015). Climate Change Vulnerability to Rice Paddy Production in Bali, Indonesia. Climate Change Vulnerability to Rice Paddy Production in Bali, Indonesia. Published. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38670-1_84
Terano, R., & Mohamed, Z. (n.d.). Household Income Structure Among Paddy Farmers in the Granary Areas of Malaysia. Conference: 2011 International Conference on Innovation, Management and Service IPEDR. Singapore. Retrieved 9 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260715141_Household_Income_Structure_Among_Paddy_Farmers_in_the_Granary_Areas_of_Malaysia
Wan, S. H., Hamdan, R., & Liwan, A. (2025). Assessing the Farmer’s Sustainable Livelihood Outcome of Rice Sectors Development in Sarawak. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(8), 790-800.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
