Malaysia

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In Malaysia, agriculture contributes approximately 10% of Malaysia’s gross domestic production. At least one-third of the country’s population depends on the sector for its livelihood, with some 14% employed on farms and plantations. Initial National Communication (INC, 2000), greenhouse gases (GHG) from agricultural activities in 1994 estimated at 14.8% of CH₄ and 13.3% of N₂O from the total country emissions of CH₄ and N₂O respectively. Malaysia’s Second National Communication (NC2) submitted in 2011 reported that Malaysia was a net sink in 2000 with the net emissions after accounting for the removal was -26.79 million tonnes (Mt) CO_2eq. The agriculture sector contributed 3% of the total GHGs in 2000 at 5906 Mt CO_2eq.

Livestock

GHG sources from livestock include livestock enteric fermentation and manure management. Livestock enteric fermentation takes place in the digestive system. Microbial fermentation will break down food into soluble products that can be utilized by the animals. Methane is produced in the rumen of ruminants by bacteria (methanogens) as a byproduct of fermentation process, which can be exhaled or excreted by the animal. The amount of CH₄ produced and emitted by an individual animal depends primarily upon the animal’s digestive system and the amount and type of feed it consumes.  Anthropogenic CH₄ and N₂O emissions are products of manure management activities in livestock.  During the anaerobic decomposition process of manure, CH₄ is released while direct N₂O emissions are produced as part of the nitrogen cycle through the nitrification and denitrification of the organic nitrogen in livestock manure and urine. Initial National Communication (INC, 2000) reported that GHG from enteric fermentation in 1994 estimated at 10.1% whereas GHG from manure management estimated at 14.0% from the total country emissions. Malaysia’s Second National Communication (NC2) reported that GHGs from enteric fermentation in 2000 estimated at 8.0% whereas GHGs from manure management estimated at 12.4% from the total country emissions respectively.

Paddy Rice

Major acreage of rice in Malaysia is grown on flooded fields. When fields are flooded, aerobic decomposition of organic material gradually depletes most of the O₂ present in the soil, causing anaerobic soil conditions which produce CH₄ through anaerobic decomposition of soil organic matter by methanogens. The water management system under which rice is grown is one of the most important factors affecting CH₄ emissions. Upland rice fields are not flooded, and therefore are not believed to produce CH4. In deep water rice fields (i.e., fields with flooding depths greater than one meter), the lower stems and roots of the rice plants are dead, so the primary CH₄ transport pathway to the atmosphere is blocked. The quantities of CH₄ released from deep water fields, therefore, are believed to be significantly less than the quantities released from areas with shallower flooding depths. All rice in Malaysia is grown under continuously flooded conditions; none is grown under deep-water conditions. Initial National Communication (INC, 2000) reported that GHG from rice cultivation in 1994 estimated at 18.6% whereas NC2 reported that GHG from rice cultivation in 2000 estimated at 15.9% from the total country emissions respectively.

The importance of livestock GHG mitigation

The country’s goal is to reduce their GHG intensity (GDP) by 40%, based on the base year of 2005 by 2020. In terms of livestock industry, Malaysia is targeting higher a Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) for the local beef & dairy industry. The current level is at 10% and plans have been devised to achieve 15% SSL to reduce more importation and entice higher economic growth through local ruminant industry. Developing comprehensive inter-agency strategy may help to cut methane emissions, especially from agriculture sector. As for the livestock sector, an early start is beneficial before the industry goes full bloom, or even when the SSL level is increased.

How the GRA / related parties can help us achieve our goals

• EXPERTISE: Capacity building

In recent years, the GRA through various channels has helped our researchers on these efforts in workshops/trainings by sending fellow expert scientists/technicians from developed countries to this nation or providing opportunities for Malaysian researchers to travel to developed countries. Among those trainings are the Borlaug Fellowship in the USA and LEARN in New Zealand.

Values in improving our national GHG livestock inventory

• Determine the key categories that produce high methane emission, prescribe mitigation action
• Emission Factor based on default IPCC values (developing countries), pursuing for tier 2 or local emission factor (EF)
• Mixed livestock production system (smallholders, large farms- different breed/feed types). Getting better overview for each of these types of system is also important in improving GHG livestock inventory

Benefits of investing in agriculture and GHG emissions

• GENERAL: Sustainability, efficient use of resources.
• Agriculture sector in Malaysia is expanding; population relies on food from agriculture. Similar global problems: “chewing more than we can bite”.
• Increase local production, reduce imports and costs.

Research & Development investment and activities

• SF6 tracer methodology to be adopted to measure ruminants enteric methane emissions, and subsequently, to develop related EF
• The country is also planning to implement IPCC tier-2 methodology for the next GHG inventory report with help from GRA experts