Agriculture and Aquaculture Newsletter July 2012
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Transcript of Agriculture and Aquaculture Newsletter July 2012
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Issue 9 July 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. The
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Email: [email protected]
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THE AGRI & AQUA
CULTURING NEWSLETTER
To Further Malaysia’s Agriculture & Aquaculture Industry
CONTENT OF THE JULY 2012 ISSUE:
Durian Season at Mantin by Johnny Lak 2
My Little Farm 8 by Raymond 5 The Essence of Life ~ Porcupine Dates by Senny Ong 7
Aquaculture Part 7 by “MJ” Joel 9
Upcoming Events 13
So, the Bioeconomy Initiative Malaysia Lab Session has
ended.
What that means is that many new opportunities have
just become available for the bio-industry, which
includes agriculture. If the list of 42 projects released by
Agensi Innovasi Malaysia (AIM) is anything to go by,
there really are huge areas of opportunity for the
agriculture and aquaculture community to tap into!
Stay tuned for next few newsletters, as we delve further
into opportunities in the agriculture and aquaculture
industries!
FROM THE CULTIVATOR’S COUCH:
Issue 9 July 2012
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Durian Season at Mantin
After getting hold of the durian orchard late last
year, we managed to fertilise them for about 6
months before the durian trees were able to flower
and bear fruit and thus harvesting.
All my farms use Organic Fertilisers, like
Fermented Organic Materials (FOM), SP2 for
fruiting purposes and Micron-Calcium. I don’t
believe in Chemical Fertiliser over the long run
because it’s not sustainable and it’s not good for
the durian trees.
In Mantin the durian seasons are in End May –
June & July while the second season is usually
around December.
It’s a hive of activity in Mantin recently during the
durian season. People will throng this place just to
get hold of wonderfully tasty durians. Imagine
travelling far away just to get to Mantin to savour
Mantin durian. People in Mantin are very proud of
their durian as they say many people likes Mantin
durian.
There are at least 6 durian collectors in Mantin.
One of them is an Indian guy by the name of Siva.
He runs the show at one of the collecting station
with his younger brother.
Pictures:-
Durian flowers…
Fruiting of durians…
Varieties of Durian Harvested
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Visitors are the Durian Farm
At The Durian Collector Station
Durian Knife
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What else but the famous Musang King
Musang King….
Article by Johnny Lak
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My Little Farm 8
Mother Nature, the weather.
This is the first drought since taking over the farm full
time (Oct, 2011) and finding it a big challenge. Even
though am anticipating it, we still have difficulties as at
now.
We started off our preparation by shoring up the main
pond, thinking of keeping a higher reserve of water.
Then we clean up the water kangkongs. We then
proceed to fire up the water pump, which had been
redundant for the past few months. Did a general
servicing like changing the engine oil, spark plug, clean
the air filter & etc. Upon running, we find the pressure
built up is a bit low and plenty of air bubbles. The fault
was traced to the leaky in-take hose. Cost is high for
this hose as it is non-collapsible. Had it replaced.
We felt so confident after preparing all these and
waited for the dry season to come.
Unfortunately our timing was a bit out as we were
unable to fill our main pond fully before the drought
came. This time, it came covering a much bigger area.
Our water sources consist of pipe in gravity water that
we share with our neighbors’, there is a small creek
that runs across our little farm. From this creek, we
had dug 2 water retention ponds. A well was dug at
our neighbor’s land. We managed to get by last year.
What we did was that we use the pipe in water to fill
our retention ponds. The pipe in water is from a small
river a couple of kilometers away.
With more than 23 days of no rain in between, our
creek had dried up. The well had dried up. The river,
water is getting less and it cannot create a pressure to
reach us as we are at the end of the pipe and could be
at a high level.
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The pump was shifted lower and closer to the pond as
the suction power is insufficient to lift the water. Due
to the water shortage, we quickly put up a shade for
our Avocado seedlings.
The shade is a D70, meaning that it is supposed to
block off 70% of the sun light. With the strong sun light
I think it may not be sufficient. Maybe should had gone
for D90 instead.
Had been checking on the weather forecast daily,
expecting rain in the coming week. Let’s hope it arrive
in time. Stay tune to see if we manage to get by this
drought.
Article by Raymond
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The Essence of Life ~ Porcupine Dates
For the past one week I had been away and spent my
days in Hospital to look after my sick dad. The whole
family is so exhausted and so hopeless seeing him in
coma condition. He was admitted Intensive Care Unit
in coma and critical condition due to food poisoning
and highly uric acid foods ingestion. The intestine
containing e-coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria and which
went into his blood, urine and brain cells. Plus his
constants vomiting caused dehydration and lost of
fluids. After heavy vomiting and the stomach acid have
destroyed his esophagus becomes inflamed and sore.
To his illness condition and urination is getting lessen,
and doctor said he may have to going through the
operation procedure by insert a small tube; this
operation procedure is called ureteral stent through
the bladder into the ureter to restore the flow of urine
to the bladder, as he is in difficulty to pass urine due to
the swollen and inflammation kidney. Increase of urine
creatinine level may leads to kidney failure, and certain
complication has causes this syndrome.
We all so much so rejected this operation as he is still
in the unstable, high fever, and critical condition, partly
due to his elderly as the reasons, we think he is not
advisable to going through this suffer again to increase
risk. Moreover, he had done this surgery last year that
really gave him uncomfortable and painful for months.
It does not help much and causes other complications
to him. The stent may have to remaining in place for
short-term or maybe long term basis.
The doctor has no guarantee that surgery would save
his life. At this stage, we rejected the doctor’s
suggestion; doctor warned us and he would not
responsible for our intention for not doing the
insertion of ureteral stent for urination operation. We
afraid the surgery may worsening the infection.
To our surprise he was awakened from the coma, it is
miracle. But he can’t talk and eat. The throat
incubation has save his lives but also caused
inflammation to his throat. And what we can do it to
first reduces his inflamed throat to minimize the pains
and fever. Secondly, is to control the uric acid and help
in passing urination by natural way to reduce the
swollen kidney. At this moment, we came to the
conclusion of using alternative way of homeopathic
remedy for detoxification process, to get rid of his
inflamed throat and kidney.
I came across this miracle stuff that suggested by my
mom and sister. At first, we were quite discouraged to
use such an expensive way of homeopathic treatment,
reason is how truth and any harmful side effect after
all. So I surf online for further information, and I came
to this website and found out more. Then from what
we had tried on him, it is really a good stuff for
alternative healing instead of going through operation
procedure. This is only the alternative way to soothe
and lessen his throat inflammation at the first place,
when we decided to do so. But anyhow, we had done
with the doctor’s supervision.
We bought this stuff from Chinese medicine shop. To
be frankly, the price is shocking high, due to its
valuable effect, hard to find also one of the reason, and
we also can’t believe it.
At first, I told my friends about this stuff and its
benefits, it is a miracle alternative medicine to my dad,
and my friend suggested whether I would place this
article on my “Simply Senz” blog?
I just simply answer my friend that ‘it is such an
expensive medicine, this may cause the crisis of price to
the medicine’; hopefully not. Yet still many peoples are
not awake of its usage and useful benefits in
alternative way of healing. So now I decided to place
here as an alternative healing reference to my
readers.
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After few doses of feeding to my dad with this
‘Porcupine Dates’, though I still can’t believe the
goodness of its healing. After a short period of 2 days,
he has rapidly recovered and reduces of painful throat;
the ulcer in his mouth has reduced. Now he can talk
and drink some liquid foods. Fever has been reduced.
His urination is flow smoothly and clears without the
crystal substance in it. The creatinine count in the
urine,values range from 4700/mg has dropped and
reduces rapidly to 1700/mg in normalize level.
The name of this stuff is called “Porcupine Dates”. In
Chinese name as “豪猪枣” or "箭猪枣" (Jian Zhu Zao)
Porcupine Dates “豪猪枣” "箭猪枣"
What is Porcupine Dates and where it comes from?
Image from: free-extras.com
This Porcupine Dates can be found in South East Asia,
that can buy from certain Chinese medicine shop.
The characteristics of Porcupine Dates are calculus
growth like a rare “stone” shape like a “date”, that
found in the stomach of a porcupine. When porcupine
is ill or injured, porcupine will find the wild growth
herbs in the forest to cure itself. As the virus is
besieged this porcupine dates will grow as the healing
progress this “dates shape stone” may form in the
stomach. The size and the medical value is based on
the duration of time, or it grows in bigger size by the
age of the porcupine.
I tasted this porcupine dates, its taste is bitter. The
benefit is to remove phlegm, detoxification, natural
immunization booster, anti-inflammation, anti-body
and supper antioxidant.
Traditionally, this has been recorded in old Chinese
medicine book. According to its valuable testimonial
has been shown successfully treat lymphoma, blood
cancer, dengue fever, fever, retention of fluid to the
lungs, lumber swollen, and herpes complex, before
operation or after surgery, diabetes and lungs
infection.
This is the video clips about “Porcupine Dates” I found
online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Pj-
Icq1s8&feature=player_embedded
What I can see that some of the “Food” can be
poisonious if overeating, also food can be a healer too.
What I am trying to say homeopathic remedy
sometimes does help a lot. Remember, before trying
any alternative homeopathic remedy please consult
your doctor or physician first.
I hope through this experience that I overcoming in
using the alternative way of homeopathic remedy to
my dad, to share it with other when situation comes to
worst stage. If needed, no harm trying to help in
minimizes the painful condition to elderly sick patient if
needed. It also depending on individual body health
condition.
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Porcupine dates maybe an expensive Chinese
medicine, yet to find out more and discover more
about its medicinal value. I took the information from
one of the Chinese medicine company, hope this is not
offence of copyrights. But this may help many others
who really need more information about the good stuff
and I shared.
Article by Senny Ong http://sennyong.blogspot.com
Disclaimer: Most important is to understand what is right for your health condition, although herbs are safe for some people, if you wish to try it is advisable
for you to consult with your holistic health practitioner or doctor first. No matter what type of healing herbs or alternative healing method, we
still have to be careful in consumption, start off slowly and minimize it to prevent overdoses with it.
Aquaculture Part 7: Fish Problem in the Pond
So far we have been covering about the types of fish
ponds and fish species suitable for pond rearing. This
time around, we shall cover some of the common
problems of fish in pond cultures. Fish cultured in
ponds can face some common problems: (i) They can
be stressed by a lack of oxygen; (ii) They can be eaten
by predators; (iii) They can be infested by parasites.
These problems and some solutions to these problems
are discussed in this section.
Diseases
Diseases of pond fish are caused by fungi, bacteria,
protozoans, worms, and crustaceans. Usually diseases
can be controlled by proper pond management, which
includes draining the pond, drying it, and liming it
periodically, and also by preventing wild fish or
unfiltered water from entering the pond. Some
diseases are fatal, but many can be controlled by
treating the pond or the fish with chemicals.
Some diseases attack fish in ponds because some other
factor is causing stress: overcrowding, low oxygen
levels, or not enough food. All of these conditions
weaken the fish so they can get diseases more easily.
The farmer must watch his fish for signs of stress and
disease. Any change in normal behavior may be a sign
of disease; for example, gasping at the surface for air,
rubbing the body or head against the sides of the pond,
or ragged fins and sores on the body. Something is
wrong when a fish population stops eating suddenly.
So the farmer must check the fish often, especially in
very hot weather.
FUNGAL DISEASES
Image: Branchiomyces sanguinis infection (Aquafind.com)
Gill Rot. This is a disease caused by the filamentous
fungus, Branchiomyces sanguinis. This disease is first
noticed by a red spotting on the gills. Later, the gills
become greyish-white and stop working. When the
gills stop working, the fish suffocate and die.
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Gill rot is most common during the hot part of the year
and is sometimes associated with large amounts of
dung and a "bloom" of plankton.
Treatment: Remove dead fish from the pond; the
remaining fish will probably recover. Drain the pond
and dry the bottom. Treat the pond with quicklime or
copper sulphate to kill the fungus spores. Fill the pond
again. Add quicklime every few weeks until there is no
more sign of the disease.
Image: Saprolegnia
Saprolegnia. This fungus is often associated with Gill
Rot. It attacks weakened places (e.g., bruises from
handling) on fish. Since it hits already weakened fish,
Saprolegnia attacks fish already trying to fight other
diseases. Saprolegnia looks like fuzzy, white cotton
wool and is often in tufts on the body of the fish.
Saprolegnia by itself can kill eggs and fry, but does not
kill adult fish. Indian carp are very susceptible to this
disease, and common carp eggs are attacked
frequently.
Treatment: Use the same treatment as outlined for Gill
Rot.
BACTERIAL DISEASES
Infectious dropsy. This is caused by the bacterium,
Pseudomonas punctata. The symptoms are a swelling
of the fishes' belly with water, ulcers on the skin,
lengthening of the fins, and deformation of the
backbone.
Treatment: Prevent diseased fish from entering the
pond. Bury and burn the dead fish.
Columnaris. This is another bacterial disease which
causes discolored patches on the body, loss of scales,
and, often, death. This disease can look like a fungal
disease, but it is not. If possible, it should be examined
under the microscope for positive identification. It is
caused by the bacteria Chondrococcus columnaris and
Cytophaga columnaris and is often associated with low
oxygen levels.
Treatment: Give fishes a feed which has terramycin in
it. If it is very bad, place each infected fish in a dip
(bath) of copper sulfate (2 minutes in a solution of 1 to
2,000) or a dip of malachite green (10 to 30 seconds in
a solution of I to 15,000). Treat the pond with 1 ppm of
copper sulfate.
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PROTOZOAN DISEASES
Ichthyophthirius multifilis. This is the worst protozoan
disease. The "ich" disease is caused by a ciliate which
forms white spots or pimples on the skin and fins of
the fish. Each parasite produces thousands of spores,
which can then infect other fish in the pond.
Treatment: Drain the pond, and lime it. Or treat the
fish with chemicals as follows:
1. Formalin 200-250ppm daily bath 15ppm in
pond
2. Malachite green 1.25ppm daily bath/30
minutes 0.5ppm in pond
3. Methylene blue 2ppm daily bath
4. Acriflavin 10ppm 3-20 daily baths
5. Salt 7,000ppm several daily baths
Costia and Trichodina. These are two other ciliate
diseases. They are cause by microscopic organisms
which attack the skin of fish and cause
lesions. These ciliates cannot be seen by the naked
eye, but the lesions and sores that they cause can be
seen by looking closely at the fish.
Treatment: Add 3ppm of potassium permanganate to
pond. Or dip the fish in baths of 5 to 10% sodium
chloride (salt) for 5 to 20 minutes daily for up to one
week.
CRUSTACEAN PARASITES
Lernea. The anchor worm is the most common disease
of this type (a copepod). This worm attacks the gills or
any other part of the body. It burrows into
the fish, leaving its two egg cases protruding on the
outside of the fish. Lernea causes red sores, and makes
the fish thin so that their market value is much lower.
Treatment: Add castor oil in a thin film over the
surface of the pond. Treat fish infected with young
Lernea in a formalin bath, or remove each parasite by
hand.
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Arqulus. Argulus is the fish louse. It is a flat, pinkish-red
disc that clings to the skin, fins, mouth, or gills. It sucks
blood with a piercing organ, which also injects poisons.
Young fish may die.
Treatment: Drain and lime the pond. Or place the fish
in a bath of 3 to 5% salt or 250ppm of formalin
for 1 hour.
WORM PARASITES
Dactylogyrus. This parasite attacks the gills of young
fish. The fish are exposed to this worm when they are
between 2 and 5cm long.
Treatment: Manage the pond well so that fingerlings
grow rapidly past the stage when they are
susceptible to Dactylogyrus.
Gyrodactylus. This parasite burrows into the blood
vessels of fish through the skin, causing the fish to
appear reddish with sores. This worm can cause fish to
die from emaciation.
Treatment: Treat ponds with 5 ppm formalin. Treat
fish individually in a bath of 25ppm formalin.
Bothriocephalus gowkongensis. This is the tapeworm
which often attacks the Chinese carp, especially grass
carp. It is difficult to treat this worm; it is found in the
fishes intestines.
In the next issue, we shall cover general treatments
and other problems associated with fish in ponds.
Article by “MJ” Joel
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Upcoming Event
Event Title Date Venue Website/E-mail
World Sustainable Agriculture
Congress 2012
10-12
July 2012
Swissotel Merchant Court,
Singapore
http://www.imapac.com/index.php?page=
WorldSustainableAgricultureCongress2012
2nd International Conference
on Asia Agriculture and Animal
2012
23-24
July 2012 Singapore http://www.icaaa.org/
Aquaculture Roundtable Series
2012
15-16
Aug.
2012
JW Marriott Phuket Resort
& Spa, Thailand http://www.tarsaquaculture.com/
1st Regional Conference on
Agrobiodiversity Conservation
and Sustainable Utilization,
2012
25-27
Sept.
2012
Langkawi, Kedah,
Malaysia
http://rac1.mardi.gov.my/index.php/home
/objectives
Agriculture Investment
Summit Asia 2012
16-18
Oct. 2012 Singapore
http://www.terrapinn.com/conference/ag
riculture-investment-summit-asia/
2nd ASEAN Sago Symposium
2012
29-31
Oct. 2012
Kuching, Sarawak,
Malaysia http://sagosym2012.blogspot.com/
BioMalaysia 2012 5-7 Nov.
2012
KL Convention Center,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia http://www.biomalaysia.com.my/2012/
International Conference on
Agricultural and Food
Engineering 2012
26-29
Nov.
2012
UPM Serdang, Selangor,
Malaysia http://www.eng.upm.edu.my/cafei2012/
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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? That’s the
sort of questions this bookworm and plant breeder seeks to
answer. And it’s definitely not what you think it is, dirty fellow!
“Mr Farmer” @ Raymond
Agriculture entrepreneur and passionate about living life with a
sense 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. That’s 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!