agri and aqua culture newsletter april 2012

8/2/2019 Agri and Aqua Culture Newsletter April 2012

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Issue 6 April 2012

Introduction

THE AGRI & AQUA CULTURING NEWSLETTER is prepared with the intention to provide the reader with information

about the agriculture and aquaculture industry in Malaysia, while gathering insights and information on industry

development and practices, as well as training opportunities offered by the Government and Private sector. TheNewsletter seeks to gather like-minded individuals who are willing to share ideas and experiences in the field.

If you have itchy fingers for writing articles about

Agriculture or Aquaculture, and wish to contribute

your knowledge and experiences, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer:

Reasonable care have been utilised in the preparation of the content and text of the Agri & Aqua Culturing Newsletter (henceforth referred as the

Newsletter). Notwithstanding this, due to constant changes and advancement in the agriculture and aquaculture industries, we are not able to ensure

the accuracy or reliability of the information provided in the Newsletter. For this reason, the reader is advised to undertake necessary due diligence on

the information before relying on the same for any purpose whatsoever. The publisher, key contributors, and related associates disclaim any and all

liability whatsoever and howsoever occasioned relating to the information provided in and content of, the Newsletter. We do not endorse any opinion,

advice or statement published in the Newsletter

Permissions and reprints: All rights reserved. Reproduction without express and written permission is strictly prohibited. To request permission to

republish in any form whatsoever, please contact: [email protected]

THE AGRI & AQUATHE AGRI & AQUATHE AGRI & AQUATHE AGRI & AQUA

CULTURING NEWSLETTERCULTURING NEWSLETTERCULTURING NEWSLETTERCULTURING NEWSLETTER

To Further Malaysias Agriculture & Aquaculture Industry

CONTENT OF THE MARCH 2012 ISSUE:

Importance of Pruning by Johnny Lak 2

My Little Farm 5 by Raymond 3

Coconut Water vs. Black Bean

by Senny Ong 6

Aquaculture Part 4 by MJ Joel 8

Upcoming Events 11

Wow..! Have you guys been reading the news lately?

Agriculture and aquaculture are cool and hip again!

Yes, thats right! Agriculture and aquaculture are no

longer considered old fashion businesses and career

paths anymore! In fact, both these areas are so sexy

and hot now, many investors from other countries are

coming here with millions and billions of ringgit to

invest!

So if you guys are considering a future in agriculture or

aquaculture, then stay tune for all the highlights and

hands-on coverage brought to you by the team!

FROM THE CULTIVATORS COUCH:
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/12

I

Pruning is the removal of live or dead b

trees for the growth of tree structure &/omay include the removal of diseased

suckering growth or excess branches. W

pruning the trees, think of yourself as th

TREE Stylist. You get to control the shap

your tree ala a hair stylist would do to you

PRUNING promotes Growth

Pruning plants is essential for the gro

overall health of your plants. Pruning pl

any dead branches, leaves and flowers

grow stronger and look better when all t

is removed. Pruning can help stimulate

and flower growth in plants. Pruning hel

have a better vision of the plant.

A well pruned plant can get down to th

growing and producing without the fertil

put in for them. Instead of going to bran

never flower & fruit or those water shprovides ENERGY FOCUS.

But most importantly, when you do p

round DONT OVERPRUNE as there ar

where farmers then to over prune either

are lazy, ignorant or dont fully und

setback of overpruning is that it will

towards the tree and slow down their gro

Happy Pruning For a Healthier Tree

portance of Pruning

anches from

r health. Thisplant parts,

hile you are

Professional

e and size of

r hair.

th and the

nts removes

. Plants will

e dead stuff

ore budding

s the farmer

business of

liser you had

hes that will

ots, pruning

runing every

tendencies

because they

rstand. The

cause stress

th.

Issue 6 April 2012

2

Article by Johnny Lak


3/12

This month I wish to shall with you th

crops that we find it easy to plant,harvest. Do give these crops some consid

are a newbie. As this is just a guide, do

local conditions and your local market req

Banana

My favorite crop is Banana. Planting ba

easy and propagation is just by transplan

Being a hardy crop, its very easy to gro

condition. Maintenance is just simple

fertilization and harvesting. We have quit

varieties in our farm now.

My Little Farm 5

easy crops,

aintain andration if you

look at your

uirement.

nana is very

ting saplings.

in most soil

eed control,

a number of

We started off just with

(Saba) planted at the peri

move on to other vari

Kerling, Raja, Cavendish an

many saplings so that w

move up to the higher valu

all rain fed hence low

testing to plant crops l

pumpkins and may be pap

Development is still on-goi

do this on a bigger scale.

Kangkung

There are 2 type of Kang

dry Kangkung. We plant t

easy to learn planting Ka

pest control. Planting time

care. Market demand is go

all greens, does fluctuate.

We had to stop further de

a shift in our developme

labor.

Issue 6 April 2012

3

the normal Goreng Pisang

eter of our farm. Then we

ties like Berangan, Emas,

d others. We Hope to create

may transplant these and

e varieties. Our bananas are

aintenance cost. We are

ike sweet potatoes, yam,

yas in between the banana.

ng and we have intention to

ung, we grew the low land

his on raised beds. Its very

ngkung. Not much weed &

can be shorten with proper

od and market price, as with

At times could be a bit low.

elopment on this as there is

nt plan due to insufficient


4/12

Serai

Serai is very easy to grow. Just some

during the initial planting stage. After

fertilizing and harvest. Harvesting is also

Unfortunately we had not found any

market for Serai yet, so had stopped devel

Okra

eed control

hat, its just

retty simple.

commercial

oping this.

Ladys Finger, quite easy

about 6 batches in small

2011) and are improvi

Continuing to develop a

different varieties, plantin

etc. As one of our helperwe had a good start.

method, weed control we

herbicide and a little inse

Just visited Sin Seng Hua

seeds.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is another ea

approximately 120 days t

types of pumpkins and do

favored at your local m

started with the wrong

selling off the first & sec

direct planting for pumpki

critical. Later stage is mucare sufficiently fertilized

water. We also had the w

grow the biggest pumpkin

that the market does not

manage to hit a 16.8 kg

prefer pumpkins of up to 7

Issue 6 April 2012

4

o manage. We had planted

cale till now (since October

ng our planting method.

d are experimenting with

distance, maintenance and

as some experience in this,e use the direct planting

had advance to using a little

ticide as pest management.

t to obtain some F1 Okra

y to manage crops with

harvest. There are various

check out what varieties are

arket before planting. We

ariety and had a tough time

nd batch. We also practice

s. The initial weed control is

easier, just make sure theyand adequate amount of

rong perception of trying to

in our area, but found out

avor too big a pumpkin. We

umpkin. Our local markets

Kg.


5/12

Issue 6 April 2012

5

Tapioca

Another simple crop. Practically no management

needed. Harvesting is labor intensive. I had just injured

my lower back and both limbs, trying to harvest the

tapioca. Am taking a rest for sprained back, tear

tendons, muscles and joints. When to the clinic twice

and was even admitted to A&E for back pain, luckily

was already back in Kuala Lumpur. Conducting an

experiment on a raised ridge as this could help reduce

harvest chore.

Short side trip.

As I was resting in Kuala Lumpur, I took the

opportunity to visit Sin Seng Huat Seeds Sdn Bhd. Their

office is located in Puchong. Having bought some Okra,Long beans and Papaya seeds from them yesterday,

took a little tour around their warehouse. They had set

up a fertigation system, its quite a simple system and I

may be able to adapt this for my usage. They also carry

all the tubes, valves and fittings. Unfortunately they do

not have a distributor in Sabah. Hope to recover soon

and head back to my farm in a couple of days to

germinate the new seeds.

Stay tune for more Easy to plant Crops on the nextissue.

Article by Raymond
http://www.greeneagle.com.my/main.htmhttp://www.greeneagle.com.my/main.htmhttp://www.greeneagle.com.my/main.htm


6/12

Coconut W

Normally we take young coconut water

the body cool and refreshing, its a natura

an excellent oral re-hydration isotonic b

natural cooler to keeps our body from h

encouraging to take more fresh young cregularly as it is good for health.

It is an isotonic electrolyte balance, it is a

slightly acidic. It enriched with phyto nutr

vitamins, minerals and hormones and i

menopause. For urinary tract problem

soothing remedies and relieves urinary dis

I remember when I got chicken pox, my l

used coconut water instead of herbal t

body heat caused by chicken pox, accor

aids in removing toxins and is touted

purifier.

My late grandma is a traditional he

regretted for not obtaining her great k

much as I can when she is still alive. A

ter vs. Black Bean ~ Gout Cu

elps to keep

l diuretic and

everage, and

ydrated, it is

conut water

tringent, and

ients such as

is good for

s it aids as

orders.

late grandma

ea to relieve

ing to her it

as a blood

balist but I

nowledge as

nyhow, I still

remembered some of it

some of her home rem

methods. I am gratefully ait with others. Since it is on

to prepare remedy why no

I knew this home healing

the preparation attracted

strange in seeing my gran

into the coconut hole to p

it regularly as alternati

problem, urinary syste

patients. Also it helps tobuster. Taste good too.

At first I thought beans ar

bean are doing the opp

antioxidant compound kn

helps in dissolve the uric a

Why used coconut water

It is good to use mature

coconut has the oil taste o

Coconut water because

healing properties. Wit

medicine remedies incre

magnesium; potassium an

you. by its diuretic, dissol

problems and are plague

drink coconut water in

medication. Drinking coco

break up kidney stones ma

and very good for gout s

promotes digestion and cl

the combination of coco

flushing out excess water

some emails regarding

recommended to take to

Issue 6 April 2012

6

res

n what she had taught me

edies and natural healing

d it's my pleasure of sharinge of the best, tasty and easy

.

remedy since young, due to

my attention, curiosity and

ma inserted the black bean

repare this recipe. she used

e cure for acute kidney

m and water retention

relax muscle; it's a stress

bad for gout but yet black

osite. Black beans has the

own as anthocyanins which

id crystals that cause gout.

ooked with black bean?

coconut but using mature

it. But I prefer to use young

f taste. And it has many

the use of alternative

sing, its contains calcium,

d everything that is good for

es kidney stone, for kidney

d by kidney stones should

addition to taking their

nut water regularly helps to

king them easier to push out

ufferers. Other than that it

aring the urinary path. With

ut water it really helps in

. Now and then I received

coconut water is highly

revent H1N1 virus too.
http://sennyong.blogspot.com/2011/09/xian-he-cao-stop-bleeding-and-anti.htmlhttp://sennyong.blogspot.com/2011/09/xian-he-cao-stop-bleeding-and-anti.html


7/12

Ingredients:

1 coconut 40 - 50 black beans

How to prepare:

1. Rinse and wash 40 50 blacremove any debris.

2. Cover with water and let soak forovernight.

3. Remove the coconut husk and fibcoconut shell and the coconut w

hole on top.

4. Insert in the Soaked black soybthe coconut hole.

Disclaimer:

Most important is to understand what is right for y

for you to consult with your holistic health practiti

still have to be careful in consumption, start off slo

beans and

few hours or

rs, retention

ater, make a

ans through

5. Seal the hole witand steam for at le

6. Strain the liquid abean soup only. Se

(For better result continu

bean soup for 1 week or re

For gout problem alternat

juice , making juice of b

Green apple + Carrot juice

too.

Note: Black bean has the

detoxification. The efficacy o

for water retention, strengt

kidney effect. it helps eliminUsually we just cook black

rock sugar, this simple black

htt

ur health condition, although herbs are safe for some peo

ner or doctor first. No matter what type of healing herbs

ly and minimize it to prevent overdoses with it.

Issue 6 April 2012

7

clean cloth, bring to cook

ast 4 hours.

nd drink the coconut black

rve warm.

e taking this coconut black

gularly to relief painful gout)

vely taking cherry or cherry

et + Celery + Cucumber +

can help and ease the gout

blood circulation effect and

f black beans soup is favorable

hen heart and invigorate the

ate swelling in hands and feet.bean with pandan leaves and

ean broth taste wonderful.

Article by Senny Ong

p://sennyong.blogspot.com

ple, if you wish to try it is advisable

or alternative healing method, we
http://sennyong.blogspot.com/http://sennyong.blogspot.com/http://sennyong.blogspot.com/


8/12

Issue 6 April 2012

8

Aquaculture Part 4: Monoculture and Polyculture

So last month we took a look at ponds and culturing

systems, and weve established the idea that the

prospective fish farmer will need to first determine

which kind of system and ponds he/she would want to

use. This month, we shall look into the two primary

forms of culturing aquatic species: monoculture, and

polyculture.

(A) MonocultureMonoculture is the culture of only one species (kind) of

fish in a pond. It can be tilapia of one species, common

carp, or any other single fish species. Monoculture has

some advantages. One advantage is in intensive fish

culture practices, where fish are fed a lot of

supplementary foods for fast growth. It is easier to give

there foods if there is only one type

of fish in the pond. Another possible advantage is that

monoculture gives greater control over the age and sex

of the fish. In monocultures, fish can be of all different

ages and life stages, or they can be separated into fry,

fingerlings or brood stock.

A monoculture allows a farmer who is unfamiliar with

fish farming to get to know his/her one type of fish

very well. There is some additional advantage to this,

especially when it comes to developing a market for

the produce.

However, there are also some disadvantages to

monoculture. One disadvantage of a monoculture

pond is that it is more likely for a single disease or

parasite to kill all the fish in the pond. It should be

known that different fish are particularly susceptible to

certain specific diseases. If only one fish type is present

in the pond, a bad fish disease could easily infect and

kill all the fish if it were not stopped in time.

In monoculture ponds, fish are harvested selectively by

using nets which have meshes of different sizes. For

example, if the farmer wishes to harvest larger fish for

market or breeding, the net will not catch or hurt the

fry or fingerlings, because they are too small to be

caught by a large-mesh gill net. This allows the farmer

to keep his pond in operation and producing fish for

food all year.

Monoculture is the most common kind of pond

culture. For a small fish farmer who is most interested

in having a nearby, year-round supply of protein (and

who does not have a lot of time or interest to give to

the pond), a monoculture may be a very good idea.


9/12

(B) PolyculturePolyculture is the culture of two or mor

together in a pond. A good polyculture us

food sources in a pond better. if the

mixed correctly, each of the species ea

food from the pond.

Polycultures are more resistant to diseas

present, usually attacks the smaller, wea

the healthier fish continue to live an

stocked in a polyculture must be able to lAnd living together successfully means tha

into the pond together do not all need to

food. A polyculture can have fish of any si

long as a balanced relationship is maintain

Some examples of polycultures are:

(i) Fingerlings of two or more sptogether in a fertilized pon

grow. A good mixture in

polyculture is a mixture of C

silver, grass, and bighead

together. The silver

phytoplankton; the grass ca

vegetation; the bighead

zooplankton.

(ii) A few large fish (brood size)with fingerlings of another

pond and left alone. A goo

this is stocking tilapia fingerli

fish species

s the natural

olyculture is

s a different

e. Disease, if

ker fish, and

grow. Fish

live together.t the fish put

eat the same

e or age -- as

ed.

ecies stocked

and left to

this kind of

inese carp --

arp stocked

carp eats

p eats pond

carp eats

are stocked

species in a

example of

ngs together

with a few ad

catfish feed

serve as a po

that are prod

Since one of

associatedoverpopulatio

complementar

example of th

stocking of an

with a few l

control.

Polyculture is a good

if there is only on

examination of localtell a farmer what

possible in his pond

remember is that the

each other. If stock

polyculture ponds can

to a fish farmer. In ver

could raise as much a

polyculture of three s

monoculture pond of t

Issue 6 April 2012

9

ult-sized Clarias catfish. The

n bottom organisms and

pulation control on the fry

uced in the tilapia ponds.

he problems which can be

ith culturing tilapia is, this is a very

y relationship. Another

is type of polyculture is a

y kind of fingerlings mixed

arge grass carp for weed

ay to use a pond, especially

pond to use. A careful

ish and their habits shouldkinds of polycultures are

. The important thing to

fish must not compete with

d and managed correctly,

give maximum production

practical terms, the farmer

s three times more fish in a

ecies than he can raise in a

he same size.


10/12

(C) Monosex CultureA word should be said about mon

even though few farmers will choose

choose this way of operation. Mo

means growing only one sex of one sin a pond. When only males or onl

stocked in a pond, all the energy of a

growth and not into reproduction.

stocking has faster growth rates t

stock of males and females, so som

to stock only males or females in a p

species that often is used in mono

tilapia. Tilapias reproduce at a very s

when separated by sex, they do not

reproductive organs, yet continue tway to stock a monosex pond is to

fish one by one according to se

breeding season; another is to purch

hybrid tilapias from a reputable sour

culture is a valuable method of pon

is usually difficult to do unless there

for monosex hybrids who is able

adequate number of fingerlings to th

Multiple Pond Operations

The major difference between a large fa

and a small one usually lies with the num

Three ponds are enough to have a

operating fish farm which includes breedi

and fingerlings to other farmers, and ra

fingerlings to market and brood size. With

one pond can be the rearing pond in whi

osex culture,

or be able to

osex culture

pecies of fishfemales are

fish goes into

An all-male

an a mixed

e farmers try

ond. One fish

ex culture is

mall size, but

develop their

o grow. Oneseparate the

during the

ase monosex

ce. Monosex

culture, but

is a supplier

to provide

farmer.

rm operation

ber of ponds.

full-fledged

ng, selling fry

ising fry and

three ponds,

ch fingerlings

are raised to market size;

brood stock; and the thir

can be used as a nursery

and the fry grow to finger

not plan to breed fish, th

ponds as rearing ponds.however, without thinkin

making plans for marketi

preserving the fish for s

farmer is a skilled pond m

do well and provide a

investment.

A Final Word on Planning

Until the farmer is experi

for him/her to start with

operation. Small pond failu

ponds are working well,

build more and/or larger

encouraged to start small.

fish pond management

experience. But a bad

rather than encourage, t

planning is a must for a su

It is during the planning pa lot of time and energy i

can be solved. The farme

planning that ponds do n

equipment in order to wo

than the equipment are:

(i) An underprinciples i

(ii) The selectwill do wel

(iii)Good daily

Next Month: Aquaculture

Issue 6 April 2012

10

one can be used to keep

, and perhaps the smallest,

pond where the eggs hatch

ling size. If the farmer does

en he/she can use all three

The should not do this,ahead to the harvest and

g the fish he will grow, or

le or use later. Once the

anager, these ponds should

good return on his/her

nced, however, it is better

small efforts and a smaller

re is not as severe. Once the

he farmer can expand and

onds. But he/she should be

There are a lot of factors in

that are learned best by

xperience will discourage,

e pond owner. Thus, good

cessful fish pond operation.

ocess, before any money orspent, that many problems

should keep in mind while

ot have to have expensive

rk well. Far more important

standing of the general

nvolved

ion of a fish or fishes that

l in his pondmanagement of the pond

pecies

Article by MJ Joel


11/12

Issue 6 April 2012

11

Upcoming Event

Event Title Date Venue Website/E-mail

National Food

Technology

Seminar 2012

6-7 March

2012

Renaissance

Melaka Hotel,

Melaka, Malaysia

www.nfts2012.mardi.gov.my/

International

Seminar on

Marine Science

and Aquaculture

13-15

March

2012

Kota Kinabalu,

Sabah, Malaysiawww.ums.edu.my/ipmb/isomsa/

5th

International

Conference on

Animal Nutrition

2012

24-26 April

2012

Equatorial Hotel

Melaka, Malaysiawww.ican2012.mardi.gov.my/

3rd

International

Biotechnology and

Biodiversity

Conference and

Exhibition

(BIOJohor 2012)

9-11 June

2012

Persada Johor

International

Convention Center,

Johor, Malaysia

http://www.biojohor.my/2012/index.html

7th

International

Postharvest

Symposium 2012

25-29 June

2012

Putra World Trade

Centre, Kuala

Lumpur, Malaysia

www.agromedia.margi.gov.my/event/postharvest2012/
http://www.nfts2012.mardi.gov.my/http://www.ums.edu.my/ipmb/isomsa/http://www.ican2012.mardi.gov.my/http://www.biojohor.my/2012/index.htmlhttp://www.agromedia.margi.gov.my/event/postharvest2012/http://www.agromedia.margi.gov.my/event/postharvest2012/http://www.biojohor.my/2012/index.htmlhttp://www.ican2012.mardi.gov.my/http://www.ums.edu.my/ipmb/isomsa/http://www.nfts2012.mardi.gov.my/


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Issue 6 April 2012

4

Contact Point:

For more details about what we do, please refer to the Lowyat Forum Thread: Venturing into Agriculture& Aquaculture

For further information or clarification please contact us at [email protected]

Meet Our Team!

MJ Joel

What do you get when you cross a potato with corn? Thats thesort of questions this bookworm and plant breeder seeks to

answer. And its definitely not what you think it is, dirty fellow!

Mr Farmer @ Raymond

Agriculture entrepreneur and passionate about living life with asense of purpose, our friend owns a farm in Keningau over at the

Land Beneath the Wind, Sabah.

Senny Ong

Our resident Chinese Herbal Specialist with a passion for the

bitter stuff. Enjoys helping people seek a healthier path in

everyday life. Now say with her: Bitter herbs are our friends

Johnny Lak

Businessman. Innovator. Activist. But not necessarily in that

order. Keen entrepreneurial skills, and a great passion towards

agriculture and knowledge. Operates farms in Pajam and Mantin.

KW Beh

Fertility, fertility, fertility. Thats what our UPM Grad constantly

has on his mind while working for Twin Arrows Fertilizer. Want to

improve crop production? Look him up for the solutions!
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

agri and aqua culture newsletter april 2012

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