Perspectives on integrated rural development in peninsular Malaysia

Development strategies in the rural economy of peninsular Malaysia are examined in this article. Tactics used have included land settlement schemes, a guaranteed minimum price for paddy, input subsidies, grants, and agricultural credit at low or zero rates of interest. The number of development institutions has been multiplying. However, the author argues that the success of integrated rural development policies must be measured in terms of improved income for farmers. He concludes that Malaysian policy planners have yet to define their objectives clearly and to identify the priority target groups. The result has been little improvement in farm efficiency and rural poverty.