Mid-Term Review of Ninth Malaysia Plan (RMKe-9) ... Malaysian Economy in Figures 2009 for: STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURE AND THE AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY (download report)
NINTH MALAYSIA PLAN 2006-2010 - EPU Report
Mid-Term Review of Ninth Malaysia Plan (RMKe-9) ... Malaysian Economy in Figures 2009 for: STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURE AND THE AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY (download report)
National Conference on New Crops and Bio-resources 2009
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) is hosting a National Conference on New Crops and Bio-Resources 2009 on 15t to 17th December 2009 at The Royale Bintang Resort & Spa Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
Objectives of the Conference is to:
• To create awareness in new or under-exploited crops and bio-resources with potential;
• To collate information on recent R&D developments on these crops/bio-resources; to identify and highlight opportunities for future industries; and
• To provide a common platform for R&D collaboration among research institutions and relevant agencies.
Keynotes:
Potential of Underutilised Crops for the Tropics by Dr. Hannah Jaenicke, Crops for the Future, Sri Lanka
Session 1: Potential of economic crops of Sabah and Sarawak
Session 2: New industrial crops (stevia, bio-fuel and essential oils)
Session 3: New horticultural crops (rare fruits, foriculture, landscapes and crops for antioxidants)
Session 4: Bio-resources 1 (potential products from algae/seaweeds, crops for animal feed and
underutilised fruits and ulam species)
Session 5: Bio-resources 2 (crops for pesticides and novel genes
You can visit MARDI web site or download the Conference Brochure.
Tissue Culture of Pisang Berangan (Dream Bananas)
Pisang Berangan seedlings are seen here growing in the bottle after 2 weeks from time of tissue culture. They are then transferred to the farm and put in to poly-bags.
Malaysian Budget 2010: RM6 Billion In 2010 Budget For Agriculture Sector
A summary of what is installed for next year. I somehow hope this budget reaches struggling farmers like us.
Agriculture Sector
· Modernise the aquaculture industry and implement entrepreneurship training scheme for aquaculture breeders which is expected to benefit 1,150 participants.
· Develop food farming industry such as fruits, vegetables, organic farming.
· Develop basic infrastructure for livestock farms, and establish supply chains for production of beef and mutton.
· Implement incubation programmes for agro entrepreneurs under the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Agrobank and Regional Economic Corridors.
· Establish a consortium between FELCRA, FELDA and RISDA with a paid-up capital of RM300 million to implement various high impact projects in downstream and upstream industries.
· Provide RM2 billion subsidies, incentives and assistance to safeguard farmers and fishermen.
· Provide RM1.09 billion incentives and subsidies for paddy farmers including price subsidies (RM400 million) and fertilizer subsidy (RM300 million) and other incentives (RM390 million).
Financing
· Provide soft loans amounting to RM1.5 billion for companies that supply and utilise green technology under the National Green Technology Centre, with effect from 1 Jan 2010, which will benefit 140 companies.
· Provide additional allocation of RM200 million under the TEKUN Scheme (including RM20 million for Indian SMEs).
· Establish a micro insurance and takaful coverage for small businesses with a minimum premium of RM20 per month for coverage ranging from RM10,000 to RM20,000.
· Approval for micro financing schemes by financial institutions will be improved to an average of 6 days and disbursement of funds to an average of 4 days.
· Expand Ar-Rahnu Scheme currently offered by Bank Rakyat to Bank Muamalat and Bank Islam.
· Provide RM200 million of soft loans under SME Corporation Malaysia.
Goat Shed at the Farm
Housing provisions are necessary whether on range or confined feeding. A goat house or shed must be built to provide shelter. Remember, goats are afraid of rain and wetness as these make them prone to pneumonia. They also prefer sleeping in elevated platforms with a stair-type arrangement. It must be well-ventilated, drained and easy to clean. Feeding racks should be accessible to both animals and caretaker, preferably in the front of the aisle. Provide flooring which should be elevated to facilitate cleaning and drainage.
Ikan Tilapia Progress
The progress of the Ikan Tilapia well on the way.
Tilapia are also called "Saint Peter's Fish" because it has been said that they were
the fish Peter caught when Christ told him to cast out his nets in the Sea of Galilee.
Ikan Haruan (Snakehead Fish)
Cultivation of Ikan Haruan on the farm.
In Malaysia, for both women who have recently given birth and patients who have undergone surgery, chances are that the first anecdotal advice received will relate to the consumption of the ikan haruan (lit. haruan fish) to aid in the healing of internal wounds.
Plant Tissue Culture
Farmer Praba set up this lab some time back to feed his growing interest in the field of agriculture.The lab was also set-up to provides training to those interested to pursue a field in research.
There is currently a trainer from Bogor Agricultural University of West Java, Indonesia.
Those interested or intend to carry out their industrial training are also welcomed. You can contact Farmer Praba on his mobile (0122090040).
Summary:
The laboratory is involved in:
The laboratory offers the following services:
the micropropagation of fruit trees, ornamentals and medicinal plants.
Consultation service for setting up Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory.
Training of tissue culture skills to laboratory personnels and plant growers.
Custom multiplication of tissue culture plants or contract propagation of new plant varieties.
Custom research and development for interested organization and consultancy for mass propagation and plant cell culture facilities.
Contract development of plant tissue culture media.
Durian 1 2 3 (a.k.a Christmas Tree)
Don't ask me why they call it so!.. but that is what I was told by the local supplier in Mantin.The seed as you can see can be very small, but it is full of flesh. The taste is very buttery and is very filling. The market rate is RM6.50 per kg but we got it at whole sale price.
Visit Mantin during the Durian season and look for Ah'Bee'.
Honey Jack Fruit (Nangka Madu)
The flesh of this jack fruit is very sweet. Farmer Praba can be contacted if you need to place an order.
Toilets Fit for a King
Farmer Praba built this wonderful toilets and shower cubical in June 2009. I don't think you are going to get any thing better then this in Mantin town. Only one rule "Keep It Clean ... or use the drain across the road".The water comes from a pump well and sewerage is collected in poly STP buried underground.
Vitato - Packed with Vitamins
Vitato is also grown on the farm. If you are wondering what is vitato well it is a nutritious sweet potato with loads of vitamins.It has a stronger nutrition content compared to the average potato. It has Vitamin such as C and E which can help in the dietary supplement of those consuming it.
Free Range Chicken (Ayam Kampung)
From the chicken egg incubator, Farmer Praba is able to have his own Ayam Kampung and is not dependent on buying young chicks.He also has several White Peking Ducks which was also hatched with the incubator.
Tanks for Catfish (Ikan Keli) and Tilapia frys
Farmer Praba is currently working on a new project to bread Catfish (Ikan Keli) and Tilapia.The two concrete tanks shown will house the fish frys. He will be ordering up to 50 poly-tanks to house the fishes as they grow.
Stay tuned on the progress .....
Egg Hatching Incubator
The Farm has its own Egg hatching Incubator, making it self sufficient.The incubation period for chicken eggs is 21 days.
Vermicompost
This is the shed which houses the production of Vermicompost.Farmer Praba produces his own compost using worms to breakdown waste generated from the farm in to organic fertilizer.
Interested! please enquire with Farmer Praba.
Farm Animals
Farmer Praba's Geese. They roam the farm in packs and can be un-friendly to strangers.There are currently 3 goats on the farm. They too roam the grounds freely and help trim the grass.
Jatropha (Jarak Pagar)
6 months old Jatropha plant, about 2 to 3 feet tall are being sold here. You can contact Farmer Praba for more information.
Vanilla Plant
Vanilla Plant transferred into poly-bags after more then a month in the tissue culture lab.The plant is sold for RM12/- per bag at a height of 6 inches.
Interested parties can contact Farmer Praba on his mobile (+60122090040).
Pisang Berangan
Pisang Berangan in poly-bags, about a month old. This banana plant was grown via tissue culture. It would normally take the plant to grow an inch tall from tissue culture stage before it is transferred into poly-bags.These plants are for sale.
Inside Netted Shed
Top: Experiment of some different types of mushrooms
Middle : Vanilla Seedlings, tissue cultured from Farmer Praba's lab.
Bottom : Farmer Praba, watering his 1 month old Jatropa seedling.
Open Dry Shed
This is a shed for cultivation of young seedlings namely Jetropha, banana shoots, vanilla and etc. This also where Farmer Praba experiments on various kinds of mushrooms.The Shed is covered all round with woven HDPE sunshade net.
Under Construction
Temporary workers quarters under construction, to be completed by end July 2009. Oh yes and that is him the Farmer him self.
Jalur Salju Farm in Mantin
The farm is located along the main road into Mantin Town, you just can't miss the blue container when you drive into town. The banner reads "Harga Rendah - Jual Pokok Jarak Pagar dan Kompos Cacing (Low Price - Jatropha Seedlings and Vermicompost)".Those interested can contact Farmer Praba on his mobile (012-2090040).
Vanilla Tree in Medan
Farmer Praba made a trip to Medan Indonesia recently and had a study tour of a Vanilla plantation. Vanilla is a kind of creeper that grows on host trunk tree and across the soil surface "looking" for dead leaves.Cured Vanilla beans sell for about USD90 to USD120 per kg or more subjected to the grade and price fluctuation.
Gac Fruit: Powerful Antioxidant
Gac fruit is the Vietnamese super food that delivers powerful antioxidant health benefits.
The fruit only ripens for a few months out of the year – September to January is so highly revered it is the cause for many festivals and celebrations.
It is considered an Asian treasure with 10 times more lycopene (an important antioxidant) than any other fruit
The farm, in the beginning..
This is how the Farm was some time in July 2008, when Farmer Praba relocated his operation from Kampung Subang to Mantin N.S.
The pictures was taken in November 2009