( 2 ) 
increase the local production of food, and various 
measures were adopted to render land the more 
readily available to agriculturists for cereal and 
other food crops. These measures, combined with 
the urgency of the food situation, resulted in com- 
paratively large areas being cultivated temporarily 
with food stuffs. 
While these efforts were useful in increasing local 
production they fell far short of anticipations 
because of lack of knowledge regarding the special 
requirements of each particular crop and shortage 
of rain. 
Rice. Rice is the chief cereal crop in Malaya ; 
indeed, the only cereal of real economic 
importance. It is the staple diet of 99% of our 
population and yet the country only produces five- 
eights of our consumption. Furthermore, only 16% 
of the population is engaged in rice production. 
This is an undesirable state of affairs, as will be 
readily acknowledged by all who experienced the 
rice shortage which was so keenly felt a few years 
ago. The Government is fully cognisant of the 
situation and is endeavouring to further the local 
rice industry in every possible way. Much is being 
done in a quiet way by District Officers who aim at 
getting all suitable land in their districts planted 
up with rice each season, and assist in repairing 
water courses, dams, etc. The Irrigation Department 
strives to find irrigable areas and to establish water 
control to render such areas independent of rainfall 
as far as possible. The Agricultural Department 
aims at the production and distribution of good 
strains of seed and improved methods of dealing 
with cultural and other matters connected with the 
crop. 
