VULNERABILITY OF AGRICULTURE TO CLIMATE CHANGE EVENTS IN THE UPPER BASIN SYSTEM: A REVIEW

Abstract

Highland regions in Malaysia are mainly linked with the watershed of the primary river system
due to their geomorphological forms, habitat characteristics, and dynamic ecosystem.
Malaysia's economic development has caused a high demand for natural resources for more
than half a century. It has resulted in environmental issues, particularly in the highlands region.
The rapid development caused the temperature in the highlands to increase tremendously,
affecting the environment's physical processes and posing a threat to humans. Rising
temperatures also threaten the economy of the upland population who depend on agricultural
activities. Climate change also indirectly invites natural disasters by increasing rainfall above
normal levels and causing slope failure and mudslides in the highlands. Temperature and
precipitation changes will cause changes in land and water cycles, affecting agricultural growth
and productivity. Temperature rise directly affects pest reproduction, survival, spread, and
population dynamics which will cause damage to plants. This paper addresses the issue and
challenge of climate vulnerability and the need for a comprehensive approach to more climate
change scenarios.