Download PRT 2008

PRT 2008
Lecture 12
Innovation in agriculture
Research and technological
innovation
Over the years, many technological
innovations have been made due to research
by government agencies (IPTA, MARDI, MRB,
MPOB, MCB, FELDA) and private sector (IOI,
KL Kepong, KULIM Berhad, Golden Hope,
Kumpulan Guthrie, Sime Darby)
Oil palm
Malaysia’s golden crop. Contributes more than
RM 30 billion to the economy every year.
Biggest producer. Area about 4 m ha. Vision
35/25. Biodiesel – 20 projects on the line.
Fiberboard. POME can be made into fertilizer,
sustainable land management.
Rubber
There are many innovations. 3rd
biggest producer. 1.7 m ha. New
clones. Latex can be extracted for
vitamin E. Tire. Rubber glove. Timber
species. Puncture tapping. Sustainable
land management.
Paddy
About 70 % self-sufficiency. Variety MR 219.
Average yield is 3.8 t/ha/season. Target 10
t/ha. Most attain a yield of 7-8 t/ha. Acid
sulfate soil – 7.5 t/ha under research
conditions. Paddy estate at Hilir Perak.
Cocoa
Production reduced. Area 45,000 ha.
We have to import some, but also reexported. Farmer’s yield 0.8 t/ha/year.
Target yield is 1.5. Farmers in Sabah
can get a yield of 2.5 t/ha. We export
cocoa butter.
Livestock
Import meat. Use oil palm estate for
cattle rearing. Feed-lot. Chicken is
more than enough for home
consumption – some exported.
Aquaculture
Government encourages aquaculture in
a big way. Fish pond or cage. New
types of fish feeds were formulated
through research.
Orchid
Tissue culture can multiply orchid
seedlings quickly and cheaply.
Vegetables
The center is Cameron Highlands.
Intensive agriculture. Cause land
degradation. High production. Produce
is exported to Singapore.
Vitagrow
It is a growth hormone. Help
improve growth, e.g. paddy.
Formulated by UPM.
Maize
J-58, a new breed of maize
produced by UPM scientists.
Biological control
The use ants in cocoa plantation
to control disease
Zero burning
• Oil palm. Replanting after 25 years. Trunks and
•
stumps are chopped off and buried. Supply
N,P,K,MG to the soil. Save 50 % of fertilizer cost.
A palm contains 642 kg N, 58 kg P, 1384 kg K
and 156 kg Mg.
Rubber. About 44 % of the nutrients goes back
to the soil. This is equivalent to 2 t ammonium
sulfate, 0.3 t phosphate rock, 0.7 t muriate of
potash (KCl) and 0.3 t kieserite (MgSO4)
Halal hub
Malaysia can become halal hub
Fertilizer
Sulfur-coated urea and biofertilizer are produced by research
Precision farming
• Also called site-specific nutrient
management
• Use ICT
• Use satellite
• Use modern machinery
• For oil palm, maize and paddy