1. PRT 2008 Lecture 12

2. Innovation in agriculture

3. 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)

4. 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.

5. Rubber There are many innovations. 3 rd 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.

6. 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.

7. Cocoa Production reduced. Area 45,000 ha. We have to import some, but also re- exported. 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.

8. Livestock Import meat. Use oil palm estate for cattle rearing. Feed-lot. Chicken is more than enough for home consumption – some exported.

9. Aquaculture Government encourages aquaculture in a big way. Fish pond or cage. New types of fish feeds were formulated through research.

10. Orchid Tissue culture can multiply orchid seedlings quickly and cheaply.

11. Vegetables The center is Cameron Highlands. Intensive agriculture. Cause land degradation. High production. Produce is exported to Singapore.

12. Vitagrow It is a growth hormone. Help improve growth, e.g. paddy. Formulated by UPM.

13. Maize J-58, a new breed of maize produced by UPM scientists.

14. Biological control The use ants in cocoa plantation to control disease

15. 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. 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 (MgSO 4 ) 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 (MgSO 4 )

16. Halal hub Malaysia can become halal hub

17. Fertilizer Sulfur-coated urea and bio- fertilizer are produced by research

18. Precision farming Also called site-specific nutrient management Also called site-specific nutrient management Use ICT Use ICT Use satellite Use satellite Use modern machinery Use modern machinery For oil palm, maize and paddy For oil palm, maize and paddy