(Bloomberg, Bangkok) The energy and fertilizer crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict is threatening Asia's most important staple—rice. Affected by skyrocketing fuel and fertilizer prices, millions of small farmers in Southeast Asia are facing the dilemma of being unable to plant or harvest. Experts warn that if maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be disrupted, Asia, and even the entire world, will face a rice shortage as early as the second half of this year. Tractors, irrigation water pumps, and transplanters all require diesel, and farming also needs fertilizers, which are now unaffordable for many Southeast Asian farmers. In Thailand, some rice fields have been left to waste as farmers are forced to abandon their crops in the fields due to excessively high harvesting costs. Davenport, the founder of Cambodian rice producer BRM Agro, pointed out that about three-quarters of Cambodia's population lives in rural areas, and the agricultural damage has left farmers deeply uneasy. About 10% of local farmers said that they would abandon this season's planting if they could not secure guaranteed purchases at a fixed price. Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world's population and is the main source of livelihood for rural communities in areas where agriculture occupies a significant proportion of economic activities. Farmers are currently not only facing doubled or even tripled input costs but also the pressure of long-term low rice prices. The Philippines, one of the world's largest rice importers and a major rice producer, may see its rice production drop by at least 10% this year. With an estimated total production of 20.3 million tons, this means a reduction of about 2 million tons, and the impact will be evident in the next harvest season in September or October. In Vietnam's Mekong Delta, soaring production costs are leaving rice farmers with almost no profit, and some are considering reducing their planting seasons from three to two a year. According to a report by Malaysian media, the Malaysian Rice Farmers Association on Friday (April 10) urged the government to take emergency measures to include rice farmers in the diesel subsidy system or propose new plans to alleviate the cost pressure caused by rising diesel prices, otherwise, rice farmers may be forced to suspend this season's farming, thereby affecting the national food supply. Association President Abdul Razak pointed out that the continuous rise in diesel prices, and the fact that rice farmers are not included in the subsidy mechanism, means they can only buy oil at market prices, causing a 35% to 52% increase in cultivation and harvesting costs; if fertilizer and pesticide costs are added, the overall increase could be as high as 65%. Although the government provides subsidies for rice farmers' cultivation and harvesting, it is still not enough to offset the impact of the recent rise in diesel prices. The impact of the Middle East conflict will continue, and farmers are seeking innovative methods to reduce their reliance on imported fertilizers and fuels. Some farms are switching from rice to corn, as corn requires less water and does not depend on diesel-powered irrigation equipment. BRM Agro is also accelerating its plans to expand the production of bio-organic fertilizers and is looking for suppliers of electric tractors and solar water pumps to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Singapore and Cambodia signed a memorandum of cooperation on Friday to establish an inter-governmental rice trading mechanism, ensuring that when Singapore needs it, Cambodia will export rice to Singapore under agreed-upon terms.