CHAPTER 5 : AGRICULTURE PRACTICES OF MALAYSIA

Pre-Independence (Interest in British Colonist)

·         Rubber plantation

Post-Independence (1957-1970)

·         FELDA and FELCRA

New Economic Policy (1970-1984)

·         Emphasize smallholder

·         Oil Palm (FELDA and FELCRA)

·         Rubber (RISDA)

·         Own Rice Mill (Lembaga Padi & Beras Malaysia)

Agriculture has expanded into secondary downstream for value added products. Malaysia's agricultural development is guided by the National Agricultural Policy (NAP). The development programmes are aimed at expanding food production to improve the food trade balance, increasing export of primary commodities and ensuring supply of raw materials for local downstream industries.

Agriculture in Malaysia is characterized by a dualistic system where the plantation sector exists side by side with the smallholder sector. Plantation or estate agriculture is normally single crop cultivation in a land area of more than 40 ha.

Industrial Crops:

·                     Rubber

·                     Oil Palm

·                     Coconuts

·                     Cocoa

·                     Pineapples

·                     Tea

Livestock

•  Non-ruminant (Poultry and Swine)

• Laying hen nutrition requirements are evaluated
• Work is being done on quality of egg production and efficiency
• Current animal welfare of laying hens in cages is being researched
• The relationship between cage density and number of hens per cage compared to energy needs and metabolism combines behavior, nutrition, and welfare issues
• Research in problem solving works to improve productivity in the poultry industry
• The UNL Animal Science department developed Omega Eggs to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease

  

• Ruminant

Ruminants usually have a stomach divided into four compartments (called the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum), and chew a cud consisting of regurgitated, partially digested food. Ruminants include cattle, sheep, goats, deer, giraffes, antelopes, and camels.

• Fisheries and aquaculture

Fisheries & Aquaculture has long been an area of specialization at Vancouver Island University. Our programs provide unique practical field experience and academic skills required for exciting and challenging careers in fish and invertebrate culture, fish habitat & stock assessment, fisheries enhancement, conservation & management and research. 

• New Source of Growth 

1.            Herbs and spices

2.           PharmaceuticaL

        Natural Product

   

Agricultural Marketing

Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA)

To drive the domestic and international marketing sector, FAMA in its role of marketing agro food products initiates to expend the market size of agro food products and increase agricuture and agro-based industry products to ensure it is available and can be obtained at affordable prices by consumers. To implement this role FAMA has been continuously intensifying efforts to enhance efficiency in the marketing chain by focusing on the following items;

·         Strengthening supply through Contract Farming Program;

·         Expand market access; and

·         Improve the promotion of domestic and export markets.

Written by : Siti Kalsum Binti Morati