1

Issue 10 August 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

Newsletter 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: agrinaquanewsletter@gmail.com

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: agrinaquanewsletter@gmail.com

THE AGRI & AQUA

CULTURING NEWSLETTER

To Further Malaysia’s Agriculture & Aquaculture Industry

CONTENT OF THE AUGUST 2012 ISSUE:

2 Days 1 Night Trip to Kluang by Johnny Lak 2

My Little Farm 9 by Raymond 10 Green Papaya Ku Ding Tea Cure Painful Gout by Senny Ong 12

Aquaculture Part 8 by “MJ” Joel 14

Upcoming Events 16

August is really coming off as a hectic month for

agriculture.

Many trips, many visits, and many projects are currently

being undertaken by those interested in agriculture, as

you will soon see in the August issue of the newsletter.

What this all means is simply that agriculture is really

booming! And how wouldn’t it? Fish got to swim, birds

got to fly, and we’ve got to eat. No?

“Agriculture no only gives riches to a nation, but

the only riches she can call her own”

~ Samuel Johnson

FROM THE CULTIVATOR’S COUCH:

Issue 10 August 2012

2

2 Days 1 Night Trip to Kluang, Johor

Last month from 12th July till 13th July, I went to

Kluang with my Sifu to visit a few of his consulted

farms and also to service his dealer in Kluang.

The first farm we visited was by Ah Yong. His farm

consists of cempedak, nangka, soursop, limau,

dragonfruit, guava & abiu trees. The main crops in

his farm are nangka & dragonfruit.

His nangka trees are abit too tall for easy

maintenance thus it was suggested that he cut

down his tree to between 6 to 8 feet tall for easy

maintenance. And the inner branches of his trees

had not been pruned properly thus we went in and

did some pruning to show Ah Yong & his workers

on the proper way to prune the nangka trees.

Spacing wise for his nangka trees are quite good

which is about 30 feet each.

Issue 10 August 2012

3

Nangka trees at Ah Yong’s Farm

A unique tree he plants in his farm is Abiu (Golden

Fruit). This fruit is sweet and has a nice texture.

Abiu sells for about RM 15.00/kg in Genting

Highlands.

Issue 10 August 2012

4

The second farm we visited was a Wax Apple &

Limau farm which is just opposite Ah Yong’s Farm.

We didn’t meet the owner as he was away but his

‘kepala’ was there. I think the owner is a rich

person as there is a huge Swiftlet building inside

the farm.

Wax apple planting is my Sifu specialty. Thus he

gave some pointers and advice to the ‘kepala’ on

proper management of the wax apple trees like

height management & flower/fruit management. To

ensure a bigger size fruit, fruit thinning is

recommended so that sufficient fertiliser is

channeled towards the fruit forming.

(Though there a lot of fruits bud but we have to

thin off some of it off to get a bigger fruit size)

Issue 10 August 2012

5

The next farm we went to is Mr Woon’s Banana,

Jackfruit, Limau, Guava & Papaya farm. His limau,

jackfruit & guava trees are too densely planted

around the farm and thus he was asked to cut

down some ‘over-lapping’ trees for much more

efficient fruit producing.

As with the other farms height management of

trees should be applied. And pruning needs to be

done for most of his trees. And quite a no. of his

trees are under fertilized as the owner confessed

as he listened to some neighbour farmers and

used their recommendation but his yields are not

ideal for his farm.

Issue 10 August 2012

6

Issue 10 August 2012

7

The next day we went to a Durian Farm owned by

Ah Huat. Its intercropped with guava & dragonfruit.

The durians in his farm are clone of ‘Buloh Kasap’

which is a clone that originated from Segamat,

Johor. He has about 100 trees which are over 30

years old as he is the 3rd generation farmer. Since

his trees are very tall thus he had netted the whole

farm over. We are trying to help his improve his

durian taste & smell so that he can command a

better price. Buloh Kasap is selling at RM 8.00-

10.00 per kg ex farm currently.

Buloh Kasap durian

Issue 10 August 2012

8

Netting the farm

Big durian tree

Dragon fruit plantings

Issue 10 August 2012

9

Dragon fruit plant

Article by Johnny Lak

Issue 10 August 2012

10

My Little Farm 9

Free Range Kampung Chicken (Malay Village

Chicken)

We are restarting our stalled Chicken Project.

Used to have a couple of chickens, but when our

project was stopped. The chicken was given off to

our ex-partner.

Our short term target is to start off and create a 50

strong colony. After which we shall access this

project and develop further from there on.

We dismantled the half of the abandon goat pen

that we had been using as our store house. Our

planed chicken coop is a small 1, these material

shall be more than enough.

Our almost completed chicken coop.

We still need to cover up the exposed sides to

prevent strong wind, rain so that the chicken shall

feel safe. Our chicken had gone into broody and

some had started laying eggs at the boxes that

were left for them. Planning to build some racks

with cubicles so that more hens could lay and

hatch eggs. Note the piece of zinc across the door.

This is a special magic door devised by my

partner, to keep out the dogs, yet letting the

chicken free to move in & out.

Having 1 male and 7 females at the moment. They

get to roam freely and happily. They are exploring

their new home and like to rest between the

banana trees to escape from the hot afternoon

heat. Searching for snacks at the banana trees.

Happy chickens grow faster.

Issue 10 August 2012

11

The chicken love to do sand bathing and is digging

a shallow pen to do these, unfortunately they are

doing it at our "five foot way" in front of our shed.

We are feeding them with corn, pumpkins and long

beans. Thinking of what else we could feed them.

Let's hope we get plenty chicks in the next 2

months.

Article by Raymond

Issue 10 August 2012

12

Green Papaya Ku Ding Tea Cure Painful Gout

Ku Ding Tea

Chinese name, as “Ku Ding Cha’, Ku means

'bitterness', Ding is its appearances is twisted

rolled leaves into a narrow spike like, like a nail.

literally as 'bitter-nail tea'.

Ku Ding Tea is the wax tree species Ligustrum

Robustum, and the holly species of llex. Grown

in the Sichuan and Guangxi Provinces and

Japan.

It is a traditional Chinese health Tea or the

beverage consumed in china And its taste

particular distinctive bitter and with a bit of sweet

taste undertones.

In Chinese medicinal properties its ability is to

disperse wind-heat, to resolve toxin, eye

ailments for itchy eyes and red eyes, it also

alleviate thirst, invigorate stomach and as for

slimming and beauty herbs tea to control obesity.

It promotes blood circulation and increase

blood flow, detoxifying and has anti-oxidant

effect similar to tea.

Using Green Papaya with Ku Ding Tea for Gout

cures

Papaya is a wonderful fruit in medicinal usage.

Papaya contains an enzymes called 'Papain',

papain is a good source of protein digestive

enzyme to helps in dissolve and break down

protein to form amino acid, it also in aiding the

body upholds better overall health to alkaline

condition. It has been proven its medical benefits,

it is an active anti-inflammation agent.

As using food as medicine, this Papaya herbal tea

drink has the certain medicinal properties to put off

the uric acid that accumulated and build up in the

body. This simple alternative home remedy can

help in alleviate joint pain, body aches and pains,

rheumatism, so as to alleviate the digestion

problem, try Papaya Ku Ding Tea.

Using an unripe Green Papaya with Chinese Tea

or Ku Ding Tea to cook it as herbal drink or brew

into herbal tea for treating painful joints and gout.

Ginger is also a good home remedy for gout and

digestive tract problem, to relieve of stomach gas

and body aches, you can add in 1 or 2 slices of

ginger into the infusion.

Issue 10 August 2012

13

Method of how to brew Green Papaya Ku Ding

Tea:

Use one unripe Green Papaya to act as a

tea pot.

Cut open the top portion of the papaya and

removes all the seed,

Place in your Chinese Tea or Ku Ding Tea,

add hot water into it.

Open a small ventilation hole to the top

cover of the papaya, covers back the top

portion of the papaya, and brewing the tea.

Steep the Ku Ding Tea leaves in the

Papaya with the hot water at the 80°c to

90° for 15 minute.

Increase the steeping time after the second

brewing. You may add more water if the Ku

Ding Tea is too bitter.

Drink the tea.

Note: This Tea can be infuse at least 3 - 4 times

continuously by adding hot water in steeping. The

water temperature is very important for brewing

this herbal tea. Repeating adding hot water to

keep it warm for drinking.

As this recipe helps in treating arthritis, uric acid,

lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Also

helps to reduce the body weight naturally and

effectively.

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.

Issue 10 August 2012

14

Aquaculture Part 8: Treatment for Other Problems in Fish Ponds

In the last issue, we covered common diseases in

the fish pond. In this issue, we shall cover some of

the general treatments for an infected pond, as

well as how to deal with other non-disease related

problems.

General Treatment of Pond Diseases

Farmers often will have trouble finding the proper

chemicals for treating their ponds or deciding

which disease the fish have and which treatment

to give. The following are some general treatments

which could be used for pond diseases.

General Treatment Baths:

Potassium permanganate 4ppm

Salt 3-5%

Copper sulfate 500ppm for 1-2 minutes

Formalin 250ppm for 1 hour

Malachite green 67ppm for 10-30 seconds

Or the farmer can use unslaked lime

directly in the pond

Some pond owners always treat new brood stock

with a one-hour bath in 10ppm of potassium

permanganate, and then transfer the fish to a bath

of 15ppm of formalin for 4 to 12 hours. This

ensures that no parasites will be introduced into

the pond with the brood stock.

Other Health Problems

Other pond fish health problems are caused by

deficiency or environmental factors. Deficiency

problems appear because the fish are missing

some factor they need to grow and be healthy.

The missing factor can be a lack of essential

elements like vitamins or minerals. This lack is

difficult to detect until a problem exists. So the only

way to prevent this kind of deficiency is to be sure

the fish are eating the right kinds of food.

Environmental problems are caused by some

change in the pond environment which places a

stress on the fish, such as a rapid change in water

temperature or an increase in pond water acidity.

These are not diseases but problems of fish in

ponds which can be controlled by watching the

water and soil quality of the fish pond, and by

preventing any rapid changes from occurring.

Predators

Problems also occur in fish ponds when other

animals eat the fish. Frogs, snakes, and birds eat

young fish and must be kept out of ponds.

The worst predators, of course, are carnivorous

fishes, like the Clarias catfishes. Prevent these fish

from entering the ponds by screening the water

inlet.

Source: Autonopedia.com

In any pond, all unwanted (trash) fish and

predators must be removed before stocking the

pond. If the pond can be emptied, simply drain the

pond, plow and dry the bottom, etc. If the pond

cannot be drained, seine the pond as completely

as possible. However, many fish escape the net by

staying at the edges of the pond. The best way to

get rid of the predators is to poison the pond water

in a pond which cannot be drained.

Issue 10 August 2012

15

The most common poison for use in fish ponds is

rotenone. Rotenone can be purchased -- as a

liquid or powder -- or it can be gotten from the

roots of the derris plant. To make rotenone, collect

derris roots and pound them until a milky-white

fluid can be squeezed out. This fluid contains

rotenone. Apply one kilogram of derris root for

every hectare of pond surface area. If using

powdered rotenone, use only 0.05 kg/ha. The

powder should be dissolved in water and dipped

into the pond from buckets.

Other poisons used in fish ponds are quicklime,

teaseed cake, camellia seed cake, tobacco waste,

and powdered croton seed. These are some

application rates:

Quicklime : 160 kg/ha

Teaseed Cake : 150 kg/ha

Camelia Seed Cake : 50 to 200 kg/ha,

depending on depth

Powdered Croton Seed : 50 to 200 kg/ha,

depending on depth

Tobacco Waste : 150 to 200 kg/ha

Most of these natural poisons will degrade (break

down) and disappear from the water in 7 to 12

days. After this period, seine the pond again. If no

live fish are caught, stock the pond.

There are many chemicals which can be used to

poison predators in fish ponds. However, many of

them stay in the ground too long. Others are

dangerous. One of the chemicals which can be

used safely is saponin, which is a component of

teaseed cake. Apply a dose of 0.5 ppm in the

pond.

In most places, there are fishermen and farmers

who know of some local plant which causes fish to

die. For example, in India large ponds that cannot

be drained are poisoned with Mahuca oil cake

(Mahuca latifolia, syn. Bassia latifolia), applied at a

rate of 150 to 250 ppm (1500 to 2500 kg/ha per

meter of water depth). This plant poison breaks

down in 10 to 20 days. These types of poison are

all better sources of poison than are chemicals.

Many times, when there is a tree that overhangs a

pond, fish will be killed when the tree leaves drop

into the pond. Watch for plants which do this, and

use them in ponds instead of poisons in a

chemical form.

DO NOT USE CHEMICALS LIKE ENDRIN,

DIELDRIN, AND DDT IN PONDS: THEY CAN

LAST IN THE GROUND FOR YEARS, AND

LATER, KILL ALL THE POND FISH. NEVER USE

POISONS WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING

WHETHER THEY CAN BE USED IN PONDS.

SOME POISONS KILL OTHER ANIMALS AND

HUMAN BEINGS, AS WELL AS FISH.

Article by “MJ” Joel

Issue 10 August 2012

16

Upcoming Event

Event Title Date Venue Website/E-mail

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

Livestock Asia Expo & Forum

2012

24-26

Sept.

2012

KL Convention Center,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

http://www.biztradeshows.com/trade-

events/livestock-asia.html

Malaysia International Food

Industry Exhibition

27-30

Sept.

2012

Putra World Trade Center,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

http://www.biztradeshows.com/trade-

events/malaysia-international-food-

industry.html

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/

Taste Fully Food & Beverage

Expo

14-16

Dec.

2012

Putra World Trade Center,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

http://www.biztradeshows.com/taste-

fully-food-beverage-expo/

Issue 10 August 2012

13

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!