FACTORS FOR LOW PADI YIELDS IN MALAYSIA

PADDY (Oryza sativa) in Malaysia was grown as an important crop for about 600,000 ha annually. Paddy or unmilled rice is Malaysia's third most important cultivated crop after oil palm and rubber. Malaysia produces more than 2.43 million tons of paddy annually in which is equivalent to around 1.68 million tons of rice. In 2023 reported that the production volume of paddy was approximately 2.17 million metric tons form various states especially from granary area.  However some factors including uncertain weather, pest attacks cited as among factors for low padi yields in Malaysia. For few years recently reporteg that uncertain weather patterns combined with the effects of pest attacks have been identified as among the factors that inflicted the country's padi yields production during the past three harvesting seasons. This article I like to write about some factors affected paddy yield in Malaysia. 

The country's padi yields currently reported as registered a drop of between an estimated 3 - 5% since early last year in which in turn reduced the supply of white rice in the local market by almost 10%. Acusations that the rice supply shortage in the market was due to the irresponsible action of rice millers or wholesalers hoarding their supply of the staple food. Suspected that the shortage was the result of some case irresponsible action by some rice wholesalers who engaged in price manipulations by switching the labels of the rice from local to imported. Such tactics are believed to be happening since there is no mechanism to regulate or control the price of imported rice. On the other hand, the price of local rice has been set at RM26 for the 10kg bag as reported by the New Straits Times Press (NSTP). There are also blamed other factors which resulted in the reduction of padi yields in the country. Among them included lands meant for padi fields being used for other purposes such as housing and industrial area. The drop in padi yield is an issue that must be addressed by the respective state governments immediately. It was reported that Malaysians may need to fork out an extra RM21 a month on imported white rice following the move by Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) to increase by 36% from RM2,350 per metric tonne to RM3,200 the price of the product recently. A wholeller said the rise meant a RM7 price hike for a 10kg bag of rice and it was a base calculation on a family of five. Following this, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has instructed padi millers and rice wholesalers to increase the supply of local white rice by 20%, through the Local White Rice Special Programme and to restore supply in the market. The ministry said the request had been agreed upon by padi millers and rice wholesalers in a joint engagement session with the North Zone Rice Manufacturers and Rice Wholesalers Industry on Aug 27 in Alor Star, Kedah recently. Through this approach Bernas will give the additional quota professionally.

In other issue reported that 'Many paddy farmers have health problems due to improper use of pesticide' related to this topic. Many of those working in the agriculture sector, especially paddy farmers, were found to have signs of health problems due to improper use of pesticide. According to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health and Health (DOSH) director-general said the findings were based on a recent research on the exposure of agriculture chemicals among paddy farmers in the Peninsular Malaysia by selected researches from Universiti Utara Malaysia. The research also revealed that a large number of paddy farmers were found to have not received any kind of training on the proper use of pesticides. Among the farmers, information on the proper use of pesticide was usually obtained from the pesticide sellers or other farmers. NST reported that the farmers were also found to be unaware of the hazard and risk of not using the pesticide properly and many ignore the importance on the proper and complete clothing and protective equipment. As a result, they are exposed to various health risks. They noted that the agriculture sector recorded the second highest in the country on cases involving industrial accidents, after manufacturing. Issue on last year in which there were a total of 42 deaths, nine cases involving permanent disability and 441 cases involving temporary disability throughout the country in the agriculture sector alone. There were a total of two deaths reported, two cases involving permanent disability and 69 cases involving temporary disability throughout the country. In Kedah alone, there were seven cases involving temporary disability last year and five cases this year. There are few  programme to provide the farmers and breeders with the knowledge on the research done and the proper use of pesticide, among others.

Local media reported in which 'CAP concerns over KADA rice yield decline' relevan to this article.  The arid condition of the padi fields in the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA) area has affected the income of farmers, leading to a decline in the country's rice production. The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has urged the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to take immediate action to overcome the problems faced by padi farmers in the Kemubu Agricultural Development Board (KADA) in Kelantan. Actually this action is necessary to boost their income and the country's rice production. According to CAP president known as Mohideen Abdul Kader said besides infrastructure being one of the causes of the decline in rice yields in KADA, the depletion of rice padi land due to the implementation of development projects also contributed to the lack of rice yield in the area. He said other contributing factors included threat of floods, droughts, pest attacks and loose rice padi soil.  While the rice yield in the area exceeded the national average of 4.1 metric tonnes per hectare, he said KADA still lagged behind Selangor's yield of 4.32 metric tonnes, the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA)'s 4.24 metric tonnes, and Penang's 5.05 metric tonnes per hectare. The imperfect irrigation system and its ineffective functioning of it have caused several padi fields in KADA to face imminent threat. Many rice stalks are stunted in growth and destroyed due to episodes of drought and floods. In May 2023 reported that about 7,800ha of rice crops in the (KADA) area were affected due to the hot weather in Kelantan. And in December the same year, KADA suffered a RM17 million loss due to the destruction of rice stalks inundated by flood waters. In 2022, due to problems with the drainage system, 1,000ha of padi land became loose and KADA lost 4,200 metric tonnes of rice.  This incident is of great concern to CAP and if it is not dealt with immediately, more padi land will not be able to be cultivated and will be abandoned. In order to save the future source of income and livelihood of 7,648 padi farmers and maintain the 25,149 hectares of padi fields in KADA, CAP hoped that the ministry would take immediate action on the causes of the problems. CAP also urged the departments and agencies involved to pay serious attention to the effects of pesticides and the usage of heavy machinery that could threaten the environment and affect padi fields. CAP believes that if the problems continue, not only will the KADA padi farmers experience hardship, but the food supply for the people and the country's agricultural sector will also be affected. It was reported last month that KADA had taken the proactive step of providing an additional 150 units of pumps this year to overcome the anticipated water supply challenges caused by the El Nino phenomenon. KADA said these pumps would be deployed according to farmers' current needs, covering 26,000ha of padi fields across six KADA padi planting districts. Thanks.

By,

M Anem,

Malacca,

Malaysia.

(December 2024).

OIL PALM AS KEY ROLE IN GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY

THE MALAYSIAN oil palm as key role in global food security as reported in many articles recently in local media. Actually,  the th Palm Oil produced in Malaysia and this region are known for its versatility that serves as a widely consumed vegetable oil worldwide and is an important ingredient in the food industry. It is mainly used as a cooking oil and also in various food applications, including margarines, spreads, confectionary fats, ice cream, pizza, doughnuts, chocolate, and emulsifiers. Palm Oil are known for its versatility, serves as a widely consumed vegetable oil worldwide, is an important ingredient in the food industry. It is mainly used as a cooking oil and also in various food applications, including margarines, spreads, confectionary fats, ice cream, pizza, doughnuts, chocolate, and emulsifiers. The world's population is growing and the United Nations estimates it to reach 8.0 billion in 2022, 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.4 billion in 2100.  Hundreds of million people do not have enough food to eat, with the vast majority of them living in developing countries.  Developing countries including Malaysia are facing the growing threat of increasing food insecurity. Malaysia scored moderately for hunger in the 2022 Global Hunger Index, recording 12.5 in 2022 from 10.9 in 2014, likely corresponding to a rise in food insecurity because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" I like to share a topic about oil palm in Malaysia as a key role in the global food security relation.

 

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), food security is achieved when every individual, at any given moment, possesses the physical and economic means to acquire an ample supply of safe, nutritious food that aligns with their dietary requirements and as many preferences, enabling a healthy and active lifestyle. There are four main dimensions of food security, namely availability, access, utilisation, and stability. Palm oil has been playing a key role in addressing global food security. Palm oil is one of the edible oils recognised by the FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO). It is a versatile ingredient used in a wide range of products including cooking oil, margarine, baked goods, snacks and processed foods. Its versatility contributes to the diversity of food options to consumers. Among all vegetable oil crops, the productivity of oil palm is the highest. Oil palm has a long life span, between 25 and 30 years with production every month throughout the year. Therefore, the supply of palm oil is stable and has the largest share of production in world vegetable oil production. There is a significant growth in population, especially in the least developed countries while the amount of arable land per person is shrinking with a projected decline of 0.38 hectares in 1970 to 0.15 hectares per person by 2050. On the other hand, the world's consumption of vegetable oils has more than doubled in the past two decades, from 87 million tonnes in 2000/2001 to 237.5 million tonnes in 2020. Palm oil is the only vegetable oil that can feed the growing population. This is because it tops the list of oil crops for yield as it needs less than one-eighth as much land as soy to produce the same quantity of oil. Palm oil accounts for six percent of all cultivated land for oil crops globally but produces over one-third of the total output.

In Malaysia reported that the Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB) conducts research and development activities to improve palm oil production, quality and sustainability. Its research findings lead to more efficient and sustainable practices, enhancing food security. Researchers at the MPOB continue to work on developing new food products and animal feed formulations that incorporate palm oil. They play a crucial role in supporting the oil palm industry's contribution to the global food supply while addressing key issues related to quality, safety, nutrition and sustainability. In the aspect of price, palm oil is cost effective and hence, more affordable compared to other vegetable oils. Palm oil is more affordable for the food industry and for the community with a lower income. The production of palm oil is also sustainable and environmentally friendly. Malaysia, being the world's second largest producer of palm oil, has carried a global leadership role to ensure this.  Malaysia adopts the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Agenda 2030 and has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing these agenda as primary framework to drive higher sustainability commitment within the country's oil palm industry. This can be reflected in its national development blueprint, the 12th Malaysia Plan. MPOB aligns its activities with the UNSDGs, emphasising sustainability, environmental responsibility and social well-being. These efforts contribute to global food security and the achievement of broader development goals. MPOB's sustainable forest management practices and conservation efforts help protect vital ecosystems, ensuring the sustainability of food production. The country introduced the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme in 2015, a requirement for its oil palm industry. The MSPO Standards were revised in 2022 and contain five principles, based on the three pillars of sustainability, namely, economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally sound. The MSPO is a dynamic initiative to ensure the productivity of our palm oil continues to rise in the long run. The certification sees that plantation owners and smallholders do not compromise the sustainability of the environment. Malaysia is committed to protecting its forests, flora and fauna through conservation and sustainable management. In 1992, the country pledged to preserve 50% of its landmass under forest and tree cover at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. The country also participated in the Leaders' Declaration on Forest and Land Use and the Global Methane Pledge at the 26th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP-26) held in Glasgow, United Kingdom in November 2021, reflecting its commitment to conserve and sustainably manage its forests and protect its flora and fauna. Malaysia's efforts to protect its forests and biodiversity are integral to maintaining a stable and sustainable food supply. By safeguarding ecosystems, promoting sustainable land management, and mitigating climate change, Malaysia contributes to its own food security and plays a part in global efforts to ensure food security for all. With its advantages in availability, affordability, and sustainability, palm oil plays a pivotal role in addressing food security for the world. Source: MPOB, Bernama and NST. Thanks......

By,

M Anem,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(January 2025).

RESEARCH ON PAPAYA LEAVES TO DENGUE (Part 2)

RESEARCH RELATED DONE to investigate the platelet increasing property of Carica Papaya Leaves Juice (CPLJ) in patients with Dengue Fever (DF) recently. An open labeled randomized controlled trial was carried out on 228 patients with DF and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF). Reported that approximately half the patients received the juice, for 3 consecutive days while the others remained as controls and received the standard management. Their full blood count was monitored 8 hours for 48 hours. Comparison of mean platelet count between intervention and control group showed that mean platelet count in intervention group was significantly higher than control group. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology'' blog I am happy to share a study regarding this research. 

The results stated that a total of 145 patients were recruited into the interventional group while 145 patients were recruited into the control group. At the end of the study, 111 patients from the interventional group and 117 controls were included in the statistical analysis. Sixty-two patients were excluded from the analysis as 38 patients were lost to followup and 24 patients had incomplete data (missing results due to sample rejection). The demographic characteristics and baseline biochemistry investigation of respondents by treatment. In terms of dengue status, all patients recruited had either dengue NS1 or IgM or both detected, while the percentage distribution of the dengue serotypes among them was DEN1 (30.4%), DEN2 (28.4%), DEN 3 (20.6%), and DEN 4 (20.6%). Hence, all serotypes were well represented in the study. Stydy also found thar presents the multiple comparisons of mean platelet count 8 hours after admission with mean platelet count at 16, 24, 32, 40, and 48 hours after admission for interventional and control group Multiple paired t-test was conducted to demonstrate if there was any significant difference in mean platelet count for each comparison. Hence, Bonferroni correction was applied to reduce the possibility of rejecting a true null hypothesis (committing a type 1 error). Based on the number of patients recruited with complete data (111 patients from the intervention group and 117 control), the power of study was 87.0% (standard deviation of platelet count of 40,000, type I error probability of 0.01, and the true difference in mean platelet count of 20,000 between the intervention and control group). Overall, there was a significant increase in mean platelet count over 40 hours in both groups.  The study conducted shows that there is a rationale behind the use of CPLJ in the treatment of some of DF and DHF. It is definitely worth investigating this plant for its potential medicinal benefits. With rapid urbanization and global travel leading to drastic demographic changes, dengue is a threat to almost 40% of the world's population. There is still no specific treatment for dengue. Previous attempts to identify a potential antiviral for the treatment of dengue has been faced with several challenges such as the presence of four distinct viral serotypes which frequently undergo mutations, finding an appropriate model for infection and protective action of a given drug as well as yield interesting therapeutic avenues for tailored response modifier drugs. The current available mouse model (AG129) available has its limitations such as low viral load and a short period of viraemia. The journey to drug discovery through the study of immune-modulatory effects against dengue infection lies on the research of generic compounds and natural products.

Research groups around Asia have attempted to study the efficacy of CPLJ in rapidly increasing platelet counts in DF as well as DHF induced thrombocytopenia but there has been no conclusive evidence drawn from those studies. Dengue is generally a self-limiting disease and the disease induced thrombocytopenia usually reverses itself after taking a slight dip during the phase of defervescence. However, a significant number of patients succumb to the disease during the thrombocytopenic period. Many mechanisms come into play during the critical phase of the disease to help reverse the disease state at this point. Animal studies in elucidating safety data have been conducted on normal Sprague Dawley rats using freeze dried CPLJ; however, no significant increase in platelet count was observed among the rats given the juice and the rats kept as control. This was probably due to the fact that the juice was freeze dried and certain essential compounds could have been lost during the process of freeze drying or perhaps the right disease model was not used for the study. Haematocrit level, which is an important parameter which is usually monitored to determine the rate of improvement in haemoconcentration, was found to be significantly reduced in both groups of people. White Blood cell count which is found to be reduced in viral infections was also found to increase in both groups.

The RNA was extracted from the blood of the patients recruited and gene expression of two genes, namely, the ALOX 12 and the PTAFR which were conducted so far. There was a 15-fold increase in the ALOX 12 gene activity among the patients in the experimental group as compared to those in the control group at the end of the 3 days. ALOX 12 is known to be associated with increased megakaryocyte production as well as its conversion to platelets through 12-HETE mediated pathway which in turn leads to increased platelet production. A study was conducted at the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, to determine the platelet specific genes. The Alox 12 gene was highly expressed in platelets and found to be a platelet specific gene by McRedmond et al. A study conducted in Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia provided evidence that ALOX12 is a direct target of transcription factor RUNX1 in megakaryocytes and platelets. RUNX1 is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of haemopoietic-specific genes. When there is RUNX1 haplodeficiency, it affects overall haemopoiesis and hence, ALOX 12 expression in platelets is decreased. There was also an agonist-induced decreased 12-HETE production in platelets with the decrease in ALOX 12 expression. This provides further evidence that platelet production is associated with ALOX 12 expression. claim that the juice consumption during the course of dengue infection has the potential to induce the rapid production of platelets. This was clearly demonstrated by the significant increase in the mean platelet count after 40 hours and 48 hours of juice consumption. The PTAFR gene which is known to be responsible for increased platelet production and aggregation was expressed 13.42-folds among the patients who consumed the juice as compared to the control group indicating that the juice had played an important role in addressing the arresting of bleeding tendencies among these patients. A study conducted in Brazil showed that injection of Platelet Activating Factor (PAF/PTAFR) in mice induced an increase in platelet count. However, after a certain level, further administration of PAF failed to induce platelet production indicating autosensitization. These findings show that PAF/PTAFR can induce the release of platelets which may be relevant to thrombocytosis . We are currently investigating many other genes to determine other roles of the CPLJ other than its role in platelet production and activation. As all plants C. papaya leaves are rich in compounds of different properties. Further studies need to be conducted before determining the inflammatory pathways affected by the juice, unopposed. However, it can be concluded that the administration of CPLJ in DF and DHF is safe and does induce the rapid increase in platelet count. It may play a valuable role in the management of DF in the near future. Thanks...

By,

M Anem,

Senior Agronomist,

Malacca City,

Malacca,

Malaysia.

(Febuary 2025).

RESEARCH ON PAPAYA LEAVES TO DENGUE (Part 1)

RESEARCH RELATED DONE to investigate the platelet increasing property of Carica Papaya Leaves Juice (CPLJ) in patients with Dengue Fever (DF) recently. An open labeled randomized controlled trial was carried out on 228 patients with DF and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF). Reported that approximately half the patients received the juice, for 3 consecutive days while the others remained as controls and received the standard management. Their full blood count was monitored 8 hours for 48 hours. Comparison of mean platelet count between intervention and control group showed that mean platelet count in intervention group was significantly higher than control group. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology'' blog I am happy to share a study regarding this research.  

It's good to know that in Malaysia is blessed with 12,000 species of flowering plants of which 1,300 have medicinal properties. There is a rapidly growing response to the use of medicinal plants by the Malaysian population. WHO estimates that in many countries 80% of the rural patients seek few alternative treatments using medicinal plants. Betik or Carica papaya is a member of the Caricaceae and  criteria include the plant as a dicotyledonous, polygamous, and diploid species. It originated from Southern Mexico, Central America, and the northern part of South America. It is now cultivated in many tropical countries such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and the West Indies including Malaysia. Malaysia is known to be one of the top 5 papaya exporting countries. The papaya fruit is globally consumed either in its fresh form or the form of juices, jams, and crystallized dry fruit. The ripe fruit is said to be a rich source of vitamin A, C, and calcium. There are many commercial products derived from the different parts of the C. papaya plant, the most prominent being papain and chymopapain, which is produced from the latex of the young fruit, stem, and the leaves. C. papaya leaves have been used in folk medicine for centuries. Recent studies have shown its beneficial effect as an anti-inflammatory agent reported for its wound healing properties, antitumour as well as immune-modulatory effects and as an antioxidant. A toxicity study (acute, subacute, and chronic toxicity) conducted on Sprague Dawley rats administered with Carica papaya leaves juice (CPLJ) of the sekaki variant revealed that it was safe for oral consumption.

Dengue is an arthropod-borne viral disease carried by Aedes aegypti as the vector, caused by 4 possible viral serotypes, namely, serotype 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Flaviviridae family. In Malaysia, dengue cases have been on the rise since 2002. Total of 18,371 cases of dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) were reported last year and had claimed 33 lives in the same year. There is no specific antiviral drug available for the treatment of dengue infection. Infected patients receive supportive management with fluids, blood and blood, products complying to the Ministry of Health Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) on Management of Dengue, 2010. Each episode of infection is known to induce a life-long protective immunity to the homologous serotype but confers only partial and transient protection against subsequent infection by the other serotypes. Secondary infection is a major risk factor for DHF possibly due to antibody-dependent enhancement. A patient with dengue fever presents typically with fever, headache, and rash known as the dengue triad. There are many other nonspecific signs and symptoms associated with DF and patient can progress to DHF and typically manifests as abdominal pain, bleeding, and even circulatory collapse. The clinical course of dengue has an abrupt onset followed by three phases, namely, the febrile phase, the critical phase and the recovery phase. It is during the critical phase that thrombocytopaenia, characterized by a decrease in platelet count below 100 000 per mm3 from the baseline and haemoconcentration, characterized by an increase of haematocrit by 20% or more, is detectable before the subsidence of fever and the onset of shock.

The study stated that certain genes have been shown to influence platelet production and platelet aggregation, namely, the Arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase (ALOX 12) also known as the Platelet-type Lipoxygenase as well as the Platelet-Activating Factor Receptor (PTAFR). An increase in activity of these genes is required for platelet production and activation. The ALOX 12 gene is strongly expressed in megakaryocytes and has been known to be responsible for the 12-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) production of platelets. The PTAFR gene was been found to be expressed in megakaryocytes indicating that it could be a precursor for platelet production in addition to its well known role in platelet aggregation. Safety studies based on OECD guidelines for acute, subacute, and chronic toxicity were conducted on C. papaya extract and showed that it was found to be safe for human consumption. The present study was conducted to determine and investigate the traditional claim that CPLJ increases the platelet count in patients with DF and DHF. This article are in two segment that was Part1 and Part 2 respectively. Thanks....

By,

M Anem,

Senior Agronomist,

Malacca City,

Malacca,

Mlaysia.

Febuary 2025).

REALISE THE LOCAL POTETIAL FRUITS IN MALAYSIA

IN MALAYSIA what we need to do to realise potential of local fruits since there are many tropical fruits available each year. There are seasonal and non-seasonal fruit grown by local farmers such as durian. rambutan, mango (seasonal fruit) and pineapple, papaya, eater melon (non-seasonal). Many local are familiar with banana, papaya, pineapple, durian, langsat, mangosteen, rambutan, mango, watermelon, pitaya, guava, pomelo, starfruit, jackfruit, cempedak, and langsat, but ambarella, pulasan and salak are less common.  In 2021 is the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables (IYFV), proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on Dec 19, 2019. IYFV complements several initiatives towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, including the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025), the UN Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028) and World Health Organisation Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. However the lockdown is a wake-up call to overcome challenges in local food production and agri-food chains, with an urgent need to improve infrastructure, farming practices and support for small-scale farmers, especially for highly perishable produce. It is timelier than ever to raise awareness of the role of fruits and vegetables in human health when everyone is concerned about boosting immune systems. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" blog I write about how to realise local potential fruit for consumption globally. The World Health Organisation recommends a minimum of 400gm of fruits and vegetables every day, yet most of us do not eat enough due to availability, affordability or lack of knowledge and awareness.
 

Low fruit consumption is among the leading dietary risk factors for deaths globally with more than 3.9 million deaths in 2017. Hence according to WHO urges governments to promote healthy food through public health programmes. Malaysia is blessed as a biodiversity hotspot with more than 370 native species of fruit-bearing trees, many of which grow in the wild. We are familiar with banana, papaya, pineapple, durian, mangosteen, rambutan, mango, watermelon, pitaya, guava, pomelo, starfruit, jackfruit, cempedak, and langsat, but ambarella, pulasan and salak are less common. More uncommon are seashore mangosteen (beruas), plum mango (kundang), horse mango (bacang), rose apple (jambu mawar), Malay apple (jambu susu) and Indian jujube (epal siam). Some fruits are native to Sabah and Sarawak, such as Borneo mango (bambangan), African black olive (dabai), and orange-fleshed durian (durian nyekak). These underused fruits, rich in minerals and phytonutrients, represent hidden gems in our forests that contribute to the nutritious diets of indigenous people. They have a huge potential for further promotion in Malaysia and globally. Trees contribute to more than 75 per cent of global carbon storage on agricultural land, despite only 43 per cent of land having more than 10 per cent tree cover. Furthermore, agro-forests have a higher floral, faunal and soil microbial diversity relative to mo-noculture farms. Agroforests, or agro-parks, promote agricultural land restoration while playing an important role in hydrological cycles and groundwater recharge during rainfall to prevent soil degradation or landslide. 

Fruit pricing is linked to consumer behaviour, demand, supply and socio-economic development as well as geopolitical factors. Monoculture increases the vulnerability of farmers to price fluctuation, climate change and pandemics. The drop in price of local banana exemplifies these scenarios when all farmers grew the same crop during the Movement Control Order last year. Therefore, foster more productive, environmentally sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.  The upscaling of tropical fruit plantations should be diversified while avoiding deforestation for greater resource use efficiency and carbon sequestration capacity to conserve biodiversity and provide better diet quality. Diversification of tropical fruit trees not only reduces poverty with extra income from cash crops, but also promotes domestic food security. Agro-forests are suited for family farming. They can even become tourist attractions for urban escapades with guided farm tours and fruit buffets. A good success story would be the Penang fruit farm established in 1993 as the largest collection in Southeast Asia with more than 200 diverse edible fruit species.  Better for revitalisation of local tropical fruits will require concerted action from all stakeholders to provide affordable, accessible, safe, and appealing fruit products to all. The National Agro-Food Policy 2.0 (2021-2030) is much welcomed to support a transformational sustainable change in fruit agricultural systems and attracting young agropreneurs. Local councils can identify underused agricultural land reserves or deforested or degraded land to be developed into agroforests or agro-parks with subsidies or micro-credit provision for urban farming. Other actions include facilitating market access by small-scale producers and incentivising agricultural enterprises with safety and quality assurance in supply chains. Innovations should be encouraged to reduce losses and waste during post-harvest and transportation, decrease consumptions of natural resources or energy, and minimise ecological footprint of supply chains of fruits. Together we can revitalise Malaysia as a fruit paradise. Thanks to NST.

By,

M Anim,

Melaka,

Malaysia.

(January 2025).

IMPACT OF HIGHER COST FERTILIZER AND ANIMAL FEED

MANY QUESTIONS on what is the impact of higher fertiliser and feed costs to the food production and food sustainability in the world?. Concerns have been raised that increasing fertiliser prices could disrupt global food supplies. Maximo Torero, chief economist for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, has said if the fertiliser problem is not solved then the world will have a serious food supply problem next year. Ian Wright, former chief executive of the UK Food and Drink Federation, has also raised concerns, stating that there is no proper plan for a “scary” future with disrupted food supplies. Rising prices for non-food products could also cause farmers to shift production away from food produce. The Telegraph has reported that farmers may have to plant fewer crops for milling wheat and more for animal feed, which is “spiralling” in cost, as they are very likely to obtain a good price. Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), has warned that this could “leave the bread market short” and argued that farmers should be incentivised to produce food. This article in "Anim Agriculture" we discussed about the impact of higher fertilizer cost and animal fees for animal husbandary in Malaysia.

Growers are also increasingly utilising crops to produce biofuels. Food companies and policy makers are calling for the easing of incentives for biofuel crops to increase global grain and vegetable oil supplies. The International Food Policy Research Institute has said that “now is not the time to be encouraging the conversion of food crops to energy through artificial policy incentives. Farmers are having to adapt their business model in response to high fertiliser prices. Ahmad Mahmud asa a commeria vegetable growers in Sengkang, TNGKk, Johor has said that farmers will need to make tough decisions on what to plant this lefy vegetables and chilli due to downsize production or reduce fertiliser usage, potentially reducing productivity. He has also said that higher prices mean greater risks for farmers, as they must make a greater risk for investment despite potential threats including weather and reduced future demand with no price guarantees. Theoretically in which plants need a multitude of nutrients to thrive. These are categorized into micronutrients, such as zinc and iron; secondary macro-nutrients; such as calcium and magnesium; and three primary macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). Mineral fertilizers provide higher and more plant accessible nutrients, while organic minerals importantly also provide carbon, which contributes to healthy soils. While efforts to reduce nutrient losses to the environment must be continued and stepped up, it bears emphasizing that fertilizers play a crucial role in agricultural productivity. For long the world market prices for both food and fertilizer (here we focus only on N, P and K) increased significantly over the past year and a half and have climbed to even higher levels following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2023 hitting their highest levels yet in March. T (see figure 1, +125% from January 2021 to January 2022, +17% from January 2022 to March 2022) and never go down. While there is an immediate concern about the impact of high food prices on food security, especially in low- and middle-income countries, fertilizer price spikes and concerns about availability cast a shadow on future harvests, and thus risk keeping food prices high for a longer period. In this blog post, which draws on data from the new IFPRI fertilizer dashboard; IFASTAT, compiled by the International Fertilizer Association (IFA); and FAOSTAT, we discuss the underlying drivers of current high prices, explain why the global fertilizer market is particularly susceptible to shocks, and examine which countries are most vulnerable to fertilizer market disruptions. A subsequent post will explore short and medium term solutions to address the serious affordability and availability concerns.

The issue of rising prices in agriculture input since June 2020 are significantly affect many farmers including in Malaysia.. However, a combination of factors contributed to fertilizer price increases beginning at already towards the end of 2020. On the demand side, global mineral fertilizer consumption remained remarkably steady during the first year of the pandemic (+1.6% in 2019/2020 compared to the previous crop year); then demand surged by 6.3% in 2020/2021.The rebound of crop prices in 2021 contributed to this movement, since higher crop prices tend to increase fertilizer demand as long as farmers face favorable fertilizer/crop price ratios. On the supply side, the most important factor has been the sharp increase in the price of natural gas, used as both feedstock and energy source in the production of ammonia (a base material for N fertilizers) and which accounts for 70%-80% of ammonia production costs. Natural gas prices spiked, especially in Europe and in Asia. The large global fertilizer producer Yara announced in March that it was decreasing its European production capacity of ammonia and urea by 55%. In other factor, similarly issue on rising prices of coal in China, the main feedstock for ammonia production there, along with a phasing out of inefficient production capacity, have also led to reduced production, contributing to rising global fertilizer prices as well. High prices of both ammonia and sulfur, two important inputs for P fertilizers, have driven up prices of P fertilizers. High energy prices, strong demand and limited supply also drove up spot prices of potash in 2021 and into 2022 untuil 2024. Other supply side drivers, such as ongoing COVID-19 related bottlenecks in global value chains and the impacts of hurricanes on U.S. Southeast production centers reported have also disrupted production and transportation of both fertilizers and fertilizer inputs. The Ukraine conflict, the economic sanctions it triggered, and disruptions in the Black Sea trading routes have all further increased trade costs and uncertainty about Russian and Belarus exports as a particular problem for the international fertilizer trade. In 2020 Russia was providing 14% of globally traded urea (the most widely applied N fertilizer), 11% of MAP and DAP (the most widely applied P fertilizers) and jointly Russia and Belarus contributed a whopping 41% of all traded MOP (the most widely applied K fertilizer). Finally, as Europe faces continued shortfalls in natural gas sources, production costs will remain high for all fertilizer suppliers (except Russia) including for the US/ Europe and for Persian Gulf countries manufacturing N products. Why the global fertilizer market is particularly vulnerable to supply shocks.

All of these problems have been amplified by two factors: A large amount of fertilizer 38% of all N, 50% of all P and 80% of all K produced is traded on international markets, and the lion’s share of that trade derives from only a few countries (see figure 2). Since ammonia, the key ingredient in N fertilizers, is primarily produced using gas or coal as feedstocks, many countries could in theory manufacture them, but comparative advantage lies with countries with relatively lower gas or coal prices: In 2019, Russia, China, and Qatar together accounted for 33% (15%, 13% and 5% respectively) of N traded. The production of potash and phosphates is more concentrated due to the uneven distribution of source deposits: For phosphates, the top three exporters China, Morocco, and Russia represent 57% of global trade (25%, 18%, and 14% respectively), and for potash the market share of the top three reaches 80% (Canada: 39%, Russia 21%, and Belarus 20%). The role of Russia on N, P and K markets, in conjunction of Belarus for potash, is particularly important in the current crisis. In this context, export policies of key countries are critical in shaping market stability, and all eyes are on China to see whether it will lift export restrictions on N and P imposed in Oct. 2021 in April 2022. The export restrictions are not limited to China; IFPRI’s Food and Fertilizer Export Restrictions Tracker shows five countries have imposed such measures, collectively reducing the global trade of each individual nutrient by 20% (see the IFPRI fertilizer dashboard). These export restrictions are having serious impacts on a number of vulnerable countries: Mongolia, trapped between Russian and Chinese policies, has seen 98% of its fertilizer supply restricted, Nicaragua 80%, Ecuador 74%, Cote d’Ivoire 63%, Cameroon 60%, and Azerbaijan 43%, among others. Another issue is trade remedies, i.e., anti-dumping duties, applied by importing countries that can impact prices in those markets. Examples include remedies applied by the European Union, or the U.S. (already implemented on phosphates, and under consideration for urea ammonia nitrate (UAN). 

The issue on repercussions of record fertilizer prices, Clearly, countries depending heavily on fertilizer imports from Russia and Belarus or the dashboard for details by nutrient) face an immediate shortfall and will need to secure alternative sources from a very tight global market. If they are able to procure supplies from other exporting countries, greater distances and transportation rerouting will lead to additional costs, pushing fertilizer prices even higher, and/or lack of availability. With three quarters of countries depending imports for 50% or more of their fertilizer use, perturbations on world markets will spread fast, impacting countries that do not import directly from Russia or Belarus. These problems will spread in the coming months; ultimately all farmers around the world will be impacted. The price shock may be buffered for farmers in some emerging and developing countries that have fertilizer subsidy regimes in place (e.g., India, China, Bangladesh, and Ghana) but those regimes are going to place tremendous fiscal pressure on budgets already stressed by substantial government outlays during the COVID-19 epidemic. Relatively smaller markets especially many African countries face a particularly difficult situation, as producers and traders are likely to favor shipping limited supplies to larger markets. Given Africa’s still-limited use fertilizers an estimated average of 25 kg per hectare, a fraction of the global average, 121 kg/ha a decline in fertilizer use would lead to significantly reduced productivity for the continent, with potentially serious consequences for food security. Finally, many fertilizer manufacturing plants in Africa focus on blending imported components to deliver the required N, P, and K compounds required by local farmers. Canceled or delayed deliveries of only a single input, for instance potash, could disrupt an entire operation, depriving farmers of inputs for weeks or months, until alternatives are put in place (e.g., application of single nutrient). As conclusions, while risks around fertilizer availability and affordability will vary by country and region, farmers in many low income countries face potential hardship as the Ukraine crisis continues. If these challenges are not addressed, harvests will suffer, keeping pressure on food prices beyond the short run and adding to food security concerns in many developing countries. A subsequent post will examine a suite of potential steps related to plant nutrition to address the crisis in the short term and prepare for a more resilient and sustainable future.Thanks...

Rewrite by,

M Anem,

elaka,

Malaysia.

(January 2025).

STARFRUIT AND THEIR POTENTIAL

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!!!

STAR FRUIT (Averhoa carambola) is a popular tropical fruit considered to be native to India, Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Taiwan or the Philippines also in Australia and Florida. Not many coubtry grown starfruit due to the agronomic practices are variable. Malaysia are the most star fruit exporter to Europe region for many years especially fo salads. In 2024 there are about 428 hectare of star fruit groen producing for 6,773 mt fresh fruit for domestic and export market. Popular variety plantes are B10, B17 and some new variety. Star Fruits shapes are oblong and angled (dissected longitudinally into 5 to6 ridges) and are between 5 and 15 cm long, weighing 50 to100 g. Fruits have a thin, waxy skin that is either green or orange to yellow in color. The whole fruit is edible and juicy. When sliced in cross section, fruits have the form of a ‘star’ and hence the name. The fruits are harvested when they are either light green, dark green, or yellow in color. In fact, as my observation in which the two distinct classes of star fruits are cultivated: Small type that is light green is very sour but with high oxalic acids, and big type is sweet, mild-flavored, and with less oxalic acid. The fruir consumed as gresh sweet fruits, processed as popular star fruit juice and processed pickles. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology'' blog I share an infomation about the star fruit as not very popular tropical fruit for many consumers.

According to the Ayurvedic medicine based in India in which the star fruit juice is recommended to aid in digestion and reduce high body temperatures and as a natural eye drop to improve vision. According to ‘Yunani’ medicine, ripe fruits reduce thirst and inhibit diarrhea and vomiting during food poisoning. Traditionally, in India, ripe fruits are used to stop blood hemorrhages. In Vietnam, fruit juice is used as an eye salve and for the amelioration of high blood pressure. In some countries, intake of juice is considered useful to relieve from excessive intake of alcohol. In Brazil reported that fruit juice is recommended as a diuretic and as a treatment for eczema.  Star fruits are used in fruit salads, jam preparations, clarified juices, jellies, and preserves. Local population in Malaysia cook star fruits with seafood or meat. In addition, salads prepared by mixing and stewing star fruits with apples, sugar, and cloves are also popular. However, in most of the growing regions, fruits are eaten raw with common salt and chili. Star fruits are a major source of vitamins A and C and contain ample amount of calcium, folate, calcium, potassium, and oxalic acids. Star fruits are low in sugar and have phenol compounds such as epicatechin and proanthocyanidins. High levels of oxalic acids in star fruits (0.08–0.73 g/100 g) are also reported. However, reports are also available on intoxication and fatality on consumption of fresh star fruit juice. Thanks..

By,

M Anem,

Senior Agronomist Expert,

Melaka,

\malaysia.

(January 2025).