Assessing Malaysian Farmers’ Capability, Acceptability, and Practicality toward a Rice Good Agricultural Practices Model

Abstract

     Sustainability and self sufficiency are the essential goals of rice production in Malaysia. The objectives of this study were to develop a rice good agricultural practices (GAP) model and to assess farmers’ capability, acceptability, and practicality toward the rice GAP model. A sample of 70 rice cultivators in Mukim Bagan Serai, Kerian District, in the state of Perak, Northern Peninsular Malaysia was selected through a multistage sampling technique determined by the method of Arkin (1974). An interviewing schedule on rice GAP production containing 22 questions of knowledge, 40 statements of attitude, and 35 queries of practice was used for data collection. The results revealed that all respondents had the capability to understand more than 50 percent of rice GAP principles. The majority of respondents had a positive to extremely positive attitude towards rice GAP. They also practiced rice GAP at the average to good level. However, there were some items that farmers could not understand, agree on, or practice that need to be supported by concerned agencies. Therefore, this investigation found that there is greater potential for implementation agencies to establish and promote a rice GAP program with regard to integrated land, water, crop, pest, and harvest management, to promote sustainability and self sufficiency in Malaysia’s rice production.