Hi guys, so sorry for the long absence. Still in the midst of final leg for bioeconomy Malaysia.

But just to quickly answer some of the questions posted:

binyamin:

It may be hard, but it is necessary. You can estimate your yield, the functional word here being "estimate". Take for example a 200 square meter hydroponics unit planting pumpkin. You can easily fit in about 640 plants in there. Knowing this, you can now determine what variety of pumpkin to plant (eg. cooking, or sweet etc.). Assume you plant the sweet variety, each plant can bear on average 5 pumpkins weighing 3.75kg. This would give you about 12,075kg of crop. With each season lasting about 4 months, you should be able to have 2.5 - 3 cycles in a year. This would give you in total 36,225kg of crop a year.

So you know what is your production capacity. What you need now is to make sure your crop does not come into harvest at the same time as most other producers (which will force prices down due to high supply). The benefit of a hydroponics unit is that you can easily manipulate your sowing and harvesting schedules, as long as you are well informed. For such information, you can check with FAMA or your local DOA. They should have some data.

Also, if you noticed, you can also manipulate what variety and crop you want to plant, based on the pricing trends. This does take a little extra work on your part, and some statistics background with good knowledge of using Excel spreadsheets, but it would help in the long run when planning.

Ah_suknat:

Nestle once had a Kickstart program in Malaysia, called Nescafe Kickstart. But it was more for publicity rather than a real "social funding" thing like Kickstarter.

However, for agriculture, there are other ways of getting about it. You can approach FAMA for some entrepreneurship support, or DOA, or LKIM (for aquaculture). They may not give money per se, but they could offer other things, like farming cages (for fish), subsidized/free seedlings, materials etc.

Mr Farmer:

Really sorry man, I can't view any pictures over here. I will need to get back to you later. Maybe by the end of the week.

merce:

There are many diseases in fish culture, especially high density cultures in earthen ponds. But the number one killer disease in tilapia has to be vibrio infection. This is a bacteria that infests the gut of the fish, causes malnutrition and starvation, and can spread to humans. It lead to massive fish kills. One of the many strains of vibrio causes the disease known to humans as cholera.

Aside from that, ich or white spot, fish tuberculosis, rots, and possibly nematodes infection.

But as a qualifier, I should add that the tolerance of fish towards disease pressure is dependent on how the farm is managed, and what strain of fish is kept. Good tilapia strains with strong genetics would be able to tolerate diseases much better than highly inbred lines. They may not be cheaper though, and consumers can't make out the differences.

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Added on September 26, 2012, 3:13 pmOn the Bioeconomy for Malaysia, I can't reveal much at this point. All I can say is that the plan is to launch it at the upcoming BioMalaysia event in November, and that leading projects are going to be very interesting for those with spare land to grow fruit trees.

This post has been edited by Michael J.: Sep 26 2012, 03:13 PM

Hey, me am looking into fruit trees too, Avocado and Jackfruit. Started to research on Sour sop as well. Am testing out tea from Sour sop leaves.

Mr Farmer:

Haaa.... ok, maybe I should qualify that statement by saying the project involves only one kind of fruit tree, meant for the nutraceuticals/functional foods market. A clue: it is an under-rated native tree in Malaysia.

Would like to take this opportunity to thank bro Michael J. & My sifu from Raub who taught me so much and my 1st banana harvest this month

the 1st whole bunched weighed in at 18kgs

Hi Michael J, really liked what you suggested in [i] and [ii] below.
I'm an electronics engineer in my day job and a horticulturist [nooby] in my freetime. I got interested in horticulture mainly due to the food crisis reason as you said.

As this thread is lively and participated by quite a few experts like yourself, I would like to post some questions about Aquaponics business here in KL Malaysia.:
a. Do we need a certification / license / permit to sell the vegetable produce of such farming technique?
b. Do we need license / permit if we farm Tilapia and sell it in such technique? What if these farmed fishes are only for self-consumption / donation?
c. Do we need license / permit if such farm is in upper floors of shoplots?
d. Are there potential in such farming technique, especially economically?
e. What are the complications / consequences of such farming technique?

Those are the questions that I can think of, appreciate any sifu here to share answers or other insights / opinions.

Many thanks.
YzQ

Just my thoughts
a. You'll need business license to sell your produce (officially). If you are on a small scale, then you'll most probably get away with it. Me, I had not registered a business license yet, but planning to do it latter. After that you'll need to look into Inland Revenue Income taxes....

b. If on a big scale, yes. Own consumption / donation, no need.

c. Most probably yes, if you do it on a shop lot. I think you'll gonna need lots of approval, including Municipal, Bomba, etc...I think too much red tapes and may not be feasible. Things like load bearing (depending on how many floors / size of pools) and water proofing and other issues.

d. Any 1?

e. Any 1?

Hey, I read & practiced electronics too, but that was ages ago. Welcome.

Hi MrFarmer, thanks for the reply.
I guess the electronics industry just couldn't make ours ends meet sooner or later huh.... hehe, for me it's part of the reason...

a. Business license with R.O.B. aside, do we need other permits from DOA?
b. I supposed on big scale / commercial, we would need permits from the Gov's Fisheries Department?
c. I wonder if the approval from Municipal, Bomba will be the same as in an Aquarium and/or pet shop?
May be I should have said that the fishes are side-income, bred mainly for the fertilization part of this closed loop technique and will be sold when population density ratio is imbalanced. Probably then, the load bearing on the shop floor will not be a question?
d. I'm trying to conduct growth rate analysis firstly but I'm convinced by the evidences found online that it's at least doubly faster. Also, if this can be done, it'll be urban farming, closer to demand that will lessen transportation perishing / cost?
Also, if done indoors, we'll have better control over weather / pest destructions and will mean less / no pesticide usage?
e. For leafy vegetables, I only know of Iron deficiency but can be easily resolved by a suitable grow medium / fish feed? More blood worms to fishes perhaps or as simply as putting a steel rebar into the system?

Alright, wait for replies from anyone here....
Thanks.

People in agriculture and aquaculture are noble people, I mean those who plant their crops and raised their livestock in ethical ways.

You could win a nobel peace prize by contributing to world food need.

For those interested in agriculture, do make a date with Maha 2012, there is a lot to see in this expo.
http://www.maha.gov.my/2012/what%27s-new-in-maha2012.html

Sorry for the late edition of the Newsletter

Here it is...

http://www.mediafire.com/?lvm2h0t8fxw7rbg

Agri & Aqua Newsletter for October 2012

what is this about ??got any career offer ?

Well ahteck88, I'm sure you can build a career in Agriculture.
Me, I'm trying too, work hard for a few years, then hope to "enjoy the fruits of labor" later on. Also hoping to pass on what I had nurture to the next generation (as some agriculture is long term).

anyone heading out to MAHA 2012 ???

I'm going. Most probably 23rd, 1st day,
Very excited about it, can't wait!
See you there.

I mostly will go at second day 24th or 25th Oct.

anybody also can go? need to register?

Oh yes.
You can also per-register online.
So many things to see.

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Added on November 2, 2012, 6:20 pmHi Teratai, you go 24th, catalogs all no more lor, I grab all jor

This post has been edited by MrFarmer: Nov 2 2012, 06:20 PM

ok thanks

Hi Farmer,

I have no choice, I will need to work at Friday, only free at Saturday.

Now the oil palm also no price, small potato like me really no eye see already.

Hi Kg Teratai,
In agriculture, good price or low price, you'll just need to carry on. It's on a long term, averaging. From my conversation with some friends here, still ok wor. Still got profit.

Rubber also having problems.
You are not alone, stay motivated. Price shall raise again, and you can go singing karaoke.