MIRI: If done properly fertigation farming will give higher returns to farmers and also can be done all year round especially with vegetables and certain fruits like honeydew.
According to Wan Mohammad Zurkarnain Baharudin, assistant director of Horticulture Unit at the Agriculture Department here, fertigation farming was the next direction of systematic modern farming which has been successfully carried out in many countries like China, Japan and the Netherland.
“Besides, fertigation is one of solutions to unfertile soil, and manpower shortage but can increase yield,” Wan Mohammad said during a basic agriculture course using fertigation technology here recently.
Fertigation involves the application of fertilizers, soil amendments, or other water-soluble products through an irrigation system. It is used extensively in commercial agriculture and horticulture and is starting to be used in general landscape applications as dispenser units become more reliable and easy to use.
The course here was jointly organised by the Chief Minister’s Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneurial Development Unit), Miri Division Entrepreneurial Development Council of Miri Resident Office, Agriculture Department, Saberkas and Dewan Usahawan Buniputera Sarawak (DUBS).
Meanwhile, assistant director of the Chief Minister’s Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneurial Development Unit) Matnor Abang said the course was one of efforts taken by the unit to create a pool of entrepreneurs actively involved in fertigation technology.
Their focus was on farmers, youths and single mothers.
One of the 42 course participants, Ali Mudin said he was happy to be selected to attend the course, and hoped more of such courses be held in the state to benefits more farmers.
He also suggested that future courses also incorporate site visit to farms nearby.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/27/fertigation-the-next-systematic-modern-farming/#ixzz2GCrJ9xEB
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Swiftlet farms must move out by Jenne Lajiun.
to stop their activities within the city, municipal and township areas.
Any queries on the matter can be directed to the State Government, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Michael Emban.
Speaking at a press conference after meeting with industry players at Wisma Tun Fuad, Emban said the directive is part of a set of 15 guidelines which would be enforced from January 1 next year to regulate swiftlet farming or rather ‘the fostering and propagation of swiftlets’ in Sabah.
The guidelines include among other things the needs and requirements before one could undertake swiftlet farming, and dissuade any swiftlet farmers from conducting their activities within cities, municipalities and towns in Sabah.
Swiftlet operators are also disallowed from starting their activities near all housing areas, public places, schools, clinics, houses of worships and water catchment areas.
The construction of swiftlet houses must be based on the relevant district plans or local plans, and must be sited in a 100-kilometer radius away from any airports and five kilometers radius away from runways.
Farmers intending to set up their swiftlet farming must enclose a map of the area where they are going to run their activities, which are allowed on titled land which states ‘agriculture’ as its land usage.
Swiftlet operators/farmers must control problems that may have ill effects on public health such as foul odours, breeding of mosquitoes and flies and environmental sanitation of their bird houses.
The use of loud speakers must not be more than 55dB, be pointed at an angle of 60 degrees towards the sky and can only be played between 6am and 7pm.
All swiftlet farmers are to abide by the good animal husbandry practice, the regulations set by any of the government agencies, conduct scheduled health and medical checks and abide by other directives from other government agencies from time to time.
Meanwhile, Tawau Swiftlets Association protem chairman Datuk Kour Nam Ngum, who was present at the press conference, said there are 4,000 swiftlet farmers in Sabah and 80 per cent of them would be adversely affected by the directive to close their operations 24 months from Jan 1, 2013.
Hence, he said, most members disagreed with the ruling.
He urged the authorities to defer the enforcement of the guidelines, saying they would be seeking the audience of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman on the issue.
“It is not fair to us,” he said, adding that investment in the industry in Sabah was around RM500 million.
Also present at the press conference was Sabah Wildlife Department director Dr Laurentius Ambu.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/10/05/swiftlet-farms-must-move-out/#ixzz2EBI1nfUa
Any queries on the matter can be directed to the State Government, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Michael Emban.
Speaking at a press conference after meeting with industry players at Wisma Tun Fuad, Emban said the directive is part of a set of 15 guidelines which would be enforced from January 1 next year to regulate swiftlet farming or rather ‘the fostering and propagation of swiftlets’ in Sabah.
The guidelines include among other things the needs and requirements before one could undertake swiftlet farming, and dissuade any swiftlet farmers from conducting their activities within cities, municipalities and towns in Sabah.
Swiftlet operators are also disallowed from starting their activities near all housing areas, public places, schools, clinics, houses of worships and water catchment areas.
The construction of swiftlet houses must be based on the relevant district plans or local plans, and must be sited in a 100-kilometer radius away from any airports and five kilometers radius away from runways.
Farmers intending to set up their swiftlet farming must enclose a map of the area where they are going to run their activities, which are allowed on titled land which states ‘agriculture’ as its land usage.
Swiftlet operators/farmers must control problems that may have ill effects on public health such as foul odours, breeding of mosquitoes and flies and environmental sanitation of their bird houses.
The use of loud speakers must not be more than 55dB, be pointed at an angle of 60 degrees towards the sky and can only be played between 6am and 7pm.
All swiftlet farmers are to abide by the good animal husbandry practice, the regulations set by any of the government agencies, conduct scheduled health and medical checks and abide by other directives from other government agencies from time to time.
Meanwhile, Tawau Swiftlets Association protem chairman Datuk Kour Nam Ngum, who was present at the press conference, said there are 4,000 swiftlet farmers in Sabah and 80 per cent of them would be adversely affected by the directive to close their operations 24 months from Jan 1, 2013.
Hence, he said, most members disagreed with the ruling.
He urged the authorities to defer the enforcement of the guidelines, saying they would be seeking the audience of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman on the issue.
“It is not fair to us,” he said, adding that investment in the industry in Sabah was around RM500 million.
Also present at the press conference was Sabah Wildlife Department director Dr Laurentius Ambu.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/10/05/swiftlet-farms-must-move-out/#ixzz2EBI1nfUa
Sunday, December 2, 2012
High-Value Agriculture Raises Competitiveness: Nor Yakcop
By Nasarudin Omar
MELAKA, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- The development of high-value agriculture (HVA) serves to enhance the nation's profitablity and competitiveness in the world economy, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.
He said there is a huge value in HVA investments because as the quality of life of more and more people around the world improves, there is added demand for more diverse types of food with higher nutrional and dietary value.
"Local development of HVAs will be focused on higher value industries including bird's nest, livestock, aquafarming, seaweed, herbs and spices, premuium fruits and vegetables, and fungi," he said in his keynote address at the Business Transformational Leaders Conference at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) here Saturday.
The conference attracted more than 200 delegates and speakers from seven countries.
Nor Mohamed said it is expected that the development of HVA in Malaysia would create jobs and increase local and foreign business investment opportunities in the country.
"In addition, immersion in HVA activities would enable an increase in farming revenues and maximise the output of existing resources," he said.
Also being held at MITC is the 1st Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Consumer Fair, featuring food products, services and handicrafts from the sub-regions' member countries.
-- BERNAMA
MELAKA, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- The development of high-value agriculture (HVA) serves to enhance the nation's profitablity and competitiveness in the world economy, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.
He said there is a huge value in HVA investments because as the quality of life of more and more people around the world improves, there is added demand for more diverse types of food with higher nutrional and dietary value.
"Local development of HVAs will be focused on higher value industries including bird's nest, livestock, aquafarming, seaweed, herbs and spices, premuium fruits and vegetables, and fungi," he said in his keynote address at the Business Transformational Leaders Conference at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) here Saturday.
The conference attracted more than 200 delegates and speakers from seven countries.
Nor Mohamed said it is expected that the development of HVA in Malaysia would create jobs and increase local and foreign business investment opportunities in the country.
"In addition, immersion in HVA activities would enable an increase in farming revenues and maximise the output of existing resources," he said.
Also being held at MITC is the 1st Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Consumer Fair, featuring food products, services and handicrafts from the sub-regions' member countries.
-- BERNAMA
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