PERFORMANCE OF NEW MARDI INBRED RICE IN SKUDUK-CHUPAK, SIBURAN, SARAWAK

Ernie Suryati Binti Mohamad Zain, Zaki Bin Musa, Hassan Bin Saji, Nur Fadilah Binti Abd Halim, Rosnani Binti Harun, Siti Khatijah Binti Jalal, Muhammad Fariq Bin Hamzah, Long Bin Sidi, Nurul Ain Binti Ismail

DOI: 10.26480/bda.01.2026.32.36

ABSTRACT
Rice production in Sarawak continues to face significant yield gaps when compared to the national averages of Malaysia, largely due to the limitations of non-granary ecosystems, suboptimal soil fertility, and the demographic challenges of an aging farming population. This study therefore examined the scaling-up of two improved inbred rice varieties, namely MARDI Siraj 297 and MR315 (also known as Seri Waja), under the Projek Inisiatif Ekonomi MADANI (R and D and C and I) in the Skuduk-Chupak region of Siburan, Sarawak. The project involved the establishment of 10 hectares of demonstration plots, equally distributed between the two varieties, with the objective of improving yields, enhancing farmer income, and evaluating the acceptance of new technologies among smallholder farmers. A combination of sustainable fertilization packages, Real Strong N-Bio Booster applications, and integrated pest and disease management were employed, and data were collected on agronomic performance, yield components, farmer perceptions, and cost–benefit ratios. Results indicated yield increments of 41.0% for Siraj 297 and 45.7% for MR315 compared to control plots, alongside a net increase in farmer income, with benefit–cost ratios of 1.99 and 2.09 respectively, compared to 1.48 for controls. Farmers expressed high levels of satisfaction with grain quality, crop management ease, and shorter crop duration. The findings strongly suggest that scaling up inbred rice varieties in Sarawak represents a viable pathway to closing productivity gaps and increasing rural incomes, though structural challenges such as farmer aging and cultural preferences for traditional rice remain

KEYWORDS
Rice production, yield gap, inbred rice varieties, farmer income, technology adoption, Sarawak