Abstract—In Malaysia, conventional rice farming is the predominant method of rice cultivation with attendant problems like the harmful effects of the utilisation of synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilisers. Thus, conventional rice farming was compared to the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method, a variant of agroecological rice farming, in Kampung Klerek, Bachok District, and Kelantan. It must be noted that the agroecological rice farming method is the farmer’s maiden attempt. Agroecological rice farming is a much more environmentally friendly approach. The aim of this paper is to compare conventional rice farming vis-à-vis agroecological rice farming from a financial perspective. Comparative Cost Benefit Analysis has been adopted to determine which the better alternative is. However, the results go beyond financial consideration as conventional rice farming is chemically driven whereas agroecological rice farming is grounded on environmentalism. The results indicated that agroecological rice farming is a better financial alternative with higher revenue and lower cost of production. The higher revenue is due to higher production yield whereas the lower cost of production is due to contributory factors like lower labour cost, lower seed utilisation and ancillary cost, zero cost for synthetic fertilisers and lower fuel and ancillary cost for machinery despite higher organic fertiliser cost. Thus, on a long-term basis, with the effect of the learning and experience curve, the cost of production can be lowered further. Moreover, the higher rice yield, less seed wastage, utilisation of organic fertilisers, organic pesticides and natural pest control methods are in sync with good environmental practices. Index Terms—Agroecological rice farming, comparative cost-benefit analysis, conventional rice farming, and fertilisers. I. INTRODUCTION Conventional rice farming is the predominant method of rice cultivation in Malaysia. Likewise, this farming method is also predominant in the eight granary areas, of which Bachok is in the Kemubu granary. These granary areas have a major irrigation infrastructure that allows for multiple cropping. Over the years new farming practices, including mechanisation, were introduced to reduce labour dependency. Manual transplanting of seeds has switched to direct seeding via broadcasting of seeds to wet soil. Improved rice varieties like MRQ76, a fragrant rice, were introduced due to its high yielding and less disease prone characteristics [1]. In addition, Manuscript received December 12, 2020, revised March 18, 2021. This work was supported by the Universiti Kebangsaan Grand Challenge Grant (DCP-2017-004/4) under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Er Ah Choy. The authors are with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia (corresponding author: Ah Choy Er; email: eveer@ukm.edu.my, ha@ukm.edu.my, azima@ukm.edu.my). as it is a fragrant rice, it is also in a position to command a premium price. In a move to boost rice productivity, increasing use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers occurred to boost yield. The introduction of mechanisation not only helps boost productivity but also aids in the reduction of labour dependency [2]. Tractors are used for tilling whereas mechanical equipment is widely used for spraying synthetic pesticides and also for spraying and mist blowing of fertilisers [3]. However, the use of synthetic pesticides and inorganic fertilisers has an impact on the environment and human health. Studies in Malaysia and in other parts of the world indicated the harmful effects of synthetic pesticides, synthetic herbicides and inorganic fertilisers on human health and the environment [4]-[8]. Thus, the search for a more environmentally-friendly approach to rice cultivation has been an on-going process. A more sustainable form of rice farming like System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a variant of agroecological rice farming and also organic rice farming, was adopted. The SRI method of farming is in consonance with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [9]. This Agenda focuses on poverty eradication as indispensable requirement for Sustainable Development (SD). Conventional rice farming is based on intensive industrial-scale agricultural practices with high external inputs comprising of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, mechanical ploughing and genetic engineering technology. SRI, an agroecological method, reduces water requirements, increase in land productivity, less reliance on artificial fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides and other agro-chemicals as well as mitigating climate change and greenhouse gases reduction [10]. In addition, it also harms the health of producers and also consumers too. Thus, SRI contributes in meeting the many goals and challenges of the SD agenda. However, the adoption was on a sporadic basis with not many farmers having working knowledge on it. Being agroecological, it is much more environmentally friendly and supportive of human health [11]. The farming practices would be different where there is lesser tillage requirement and higher dependence on organic matters like organic fertilisers and organic pesticides [12]. A comparison between the key SRI practices and standard methods for irrigated rice farming are highlighted in Table I. The standard practices are akin to conventional rice farming. Thus, the aim of this study is to compare conventional rice farming vis-a-vis agroecological rice farming from a financial perspective, at Kampung Klerek, Bachok, taking into consideration the different farming practices adopted in both types of farming. Different farming practices have Comparative Cost Benefit Analysis of Conventional Farming and Agroecological Farming for Paddy Cultivation in Bachok, Kelantan Ah Choy Er, Habibah Ahmad, and Azima Abdul Manaf International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, Vol. 12, No. 6, June 2021 181 doi: 10.18178/ijesd.2021.12.6.1338