Chinese-developed perennial rice takes root in Malaysia's Sarawak, offering hope for food security

MIRI, Malaysia, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- "When I saw the rice fields turn golden, I was so excited (that) I couldn't sleep. Words cannot describe how I felt," Hii King Chiong said.

Months after the first harvest of perennial rice on what was once swampy land in Malaysia's Sarawak state, Hii, executive chairman of Borneoland Paddy Sdn Bhd, still speaks of the moment with excitement.

When Xinhua visited the experimental field in Miri, a city in eastern Sarawak, on Oct. 15, lush green rice plants filled the plots, with a second harvest expected in just over a month. Nearby, seedlings of several varieties were growing in further trials. It was hard to imagine that the land had once been a swamp.

On Aug. 6, the field yielded its first crop after months of joint work by China's Yunnan University and Borneoland Paddy. At the harvest ceremony, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg said that if the technology could be widely adopted, the state could significantly improve its rice self-sufficiency and potentially become a rice exporter.

Sarawak currently meets only about 21 percent of its rice needs through domestic production, and the state government aims to raise that share to 60 percent by 2030. Boosting local production and reducing dependence on external supplies have become important priorities for strengthening food security.

To explore possible solutions, Sarawak turned to China. Yunnan Province and Sarawak are sister regions, while Yunnan University and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak have maintained long-standing academic exchanges. Building on these ties, the two sides began working together in 2025 to test perennial rice varieties developed by Yunnan University in Sarawak.

"I have faith in the Chinese team and in Chinese technology," Hii said.

Before the cooperation with the Chinese team, Hii had invited several teams of experts to assess the land, but the challenging conditions of the swampy terrain left many doubtful about the prospects for cultivation.

The breakthrough came when he approached a team led by Hu Fengyi, dean of Yunnan University's College of Agriculture. While other experts had advised him to abandon the idea, Hu's team inspected the site and offered a different answer.

For the researchers, bringing rice varieties to Malaysia was only the first step. The real challenge was to help the plants adapt to local climatic, soil and water conditions while equipping the Malaysian team with the skills needed to grow perennial rice.

In March, 30 perennial rice varieties entered the trial phase. The Chinese researchers provided hands-on guidance throughout the process, from preparing the fields and building bunds to setting up irrigation and drainage systems, sowing seeds, raising seedlings and transplanting them. They also helped with water and fertilizer management and pest control, monitoring plant growth through field visits and remote follow-ups and adjusting cultivation practices when necessary.

After the first harvest, the team selected five varieties that showed promising adaptability to local conditions. Among them, "Yunda 28" performed particularly well, yielding more than 500 kg per mu (one mu is approximately 667 square meters), compared with around 200 kg per mu for traditional local rice varieties.

The preliminary results have encouraged both sides to explore the technology's potential for wider application in Sarawak.

One distinctive feature of perennial rice is its ability to regrow after harvest. Buds on the underground stems can sprout into new shoots, potentially reducing the need to sow seeds, raise seedlings and transplant rice plants for every new crop, Hu said.

But the first harvest is only an initial milestone. Whether the rice can deliver consistent yields over successive seasons in Sarawak, and which varieties can adapt to the local environment over the long term, will require further observation and testing.

Agricultural technology cannot simply be transferred from one place to another without adjustment, Hu said. It must be refined in response to local conditions and needs.

"We need to keep improving the technology so that it is easier to use, produces higher yields and better-quality rice, and better meets Malaysia's needs," he said.

Cooperation is already moving into its next phase. Abang Johari has expressed interest in deepening ties with Yunnan University and establishing a perennial rice research center in Sarawak. In early October, the Malaysian team visited Yunnan University to learn about its research facilities and equipment.

As the partnership progresses, the Malaysian team is gaining a more direct understanding of China's agricultural technology. For Hii, the experience has also highlighted the value of sharing scientific advances through international agricultural cooperation.

Hii's trial field has gradually become a local attraction. "Many people have come to visit after hearing that we have introduced new perennial rice varieties developed in China," He said.