wah so fast getting a proposal done ar ?

below is a news about Agarwood.

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Have research site for agarwood, state urged

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wed...2078859/Article

DUNGUN: Turn the Karas plantation in the Merchang reserve forest here into a research site for agarwood.
This was the call made by the Peninsular Malaysia Fores-try Department to the state government.

The agarwood or gaharu from the Aquilaria malaccensis tree, a local species also known as the Karas tree, can grow more than 36 metres in height, is threatened by extinction due to illegal collection.

It has several benefits including medicinal properties such as a cure for fever, stomach pains and body aches. It also has anti-cancer properties.

According to a report by the Convention on International Trade, Peninsular Malaysia exported 450 tonnes of gaharu between 1995 and 1999 to countries such as Hong Kong, India, Japan, Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
The department's director-general, Datuk Seri Azahar Muda said that with a research site, the country would be able to tap into this potential.

"Currently, there aren't any detailed studies on the species. The information we have is very general.

"This is why it is important we have a site to do further research, especially since the interest in gaharu has ballooned in recent years.

"The information gleaned from the research can then be used as a guide for parties interested, especially private companies, in exploiting its potential," he said after visiting the site on Monday.

The 47-hectare site for the pilot project -- previously covered with the highly invasive Acacia mangium -- is planted with 39,500 trees.

Azahar also urges states in the peninsula to plant the Karas tree on vacant land due to its commercial value. On average, an adult tree can bring in up to RM18,000 after harvesting.

So far there are two plantations, one in Kuala Lipis and one in Raub, Pahang owned by a private company.

Reposted from another agriculture thread.

Repost from another thread.

This post has been edited by ParaOpticaL: Nov 19 2007, 11:00 AM

actually you can try some local fertiliser.
they are much cheaper and we have capable producers.

this month's AgroWorld has a few potential suppliers.

if you are interested let me know...
i can let you know the supplier for Lagenda Maju BioTop Fertiliser.

Hope for 'kelah' as history is made
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Fri...icle/index_html


The first batch of 250 Malayan Masheer hatchlings or the majestic iikan kelah was bred in captivity.


The RM3.7 million hatchery is modelled on those in India, Thailand and the Netherlands.

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RAUB: History was made at the RM3.7 million hatchery at Kampung Ulu Sungai here when the first batch of 250 Malayan Masheer hatchlings (Tor tambriodes) or ikan kelah was bred in captivity.

At 60 days old, the fry are reported to be in good health and growing under a controlled environment.

The result came from the research and work by aquaculturist Ng Chee Kiat, who published a book on the freshwater species titled King of the Rivers three years ago.

The 46-year-old said his project was self-funded and took shape last December.

To enable captive breeding of the Malayan Masheer, Ng had sourced for a large quantity of brood stock across Peninsular Malaysia.
"I built a hatchery complex to house mature fish stock aged one and above because these are fish that have reached maturity and are the right age for their reproduction cycle. I acquired more than 200 specimens."

For location, Kampung Ulu Sungai was the first choice for its good quality water.

Ng modelled the hatchery on facilities he had visited in India, Thailand and the Netherlands.

"India has been successful in breeding the Indian Masheer.

"And much of the technical aspect of my hatchery was adapted from the Netherlands where technology is incorporated into breeding species like the trout."

He said the adult fishes (70 per cent of his brood stock are female) were ready for breeding in March.

To harvest the eggs, he used a synthetic hormone and milked the sperm from the male Masheer to carry out artificial fertilisation.

Larvae development takes shape in 72 hours. But his first attempt to breed it ended in failure. In his second attempt, he came close to accomplishing his goal, but the hatchlings turned out to be deformed.

According to him, the paired brood stock had not reached its mature age. And instead of destroying the deformed fry, he kept six surviving hatchlings.

In September, the fish larvaes hatched with a clean bill of health.

"It was just a matter of time. I am happy with the results and, with this achievement, we can now breed the Masheer at any time."

He said since the species was also a biological indicator of the health of the country's rivers, it was imperative that efforts be made to conserve the fish.

The Masheer, which is found in Indonesia, Thailand and Indochina, can only survive in water that is high in dissolved oxygen.

"Ikan kelah needs fast-flowing water. It will die if there is insufficient oxygen and if the water quality is poor. On the average, the species spawns only twice a year. One flaw in this fish breed is its slow growth rate and reproduction cycle."

The Masheer is also threatened by the decline of its natural habitat and overfishing due to the demand for premium freshwater fish at restaurants.

Ng cited one example in Sarawak where a large specimen was landed and sold for more than RM9,000. Such demand has also threatened ikan kelah, which can fetch up to RM450 per kg.

"It is no secret that large quantities of the Masheer were harvested from the wild and ended up on dining tables. And if no one puts a stop to this, the species is doomed."

Captive breeding of the Masheer, he said, provided a chance to restock the species in the wild. He said he hoped that in five years, his hatchery could produce enough hatchlings for conservation.

He said there were efforts to save the Masheer.

At Kem Melantai in Taman Negara, a part of Sungai Tahan has been closed to fishing to breed the Masheer in its natural habitat.

"With a stable brood stock and a well-conditioned number of fishes, I can breed the Masheer all year round. This means that their fry can be made available on demand. Rivers can be restocked faster than the fish's reproductive cycle."

He said the Masheer was not an easy fish to breed in captivity due to its slower larvae development period.

An average commercial freshwater fish like the tilapia or grass carp takes fewer than 24 hours to hatch after fertilisation.

"The fish thrives in cooler temperature and in conditions where water quality is rich with dissolved oxygen. One of the drawbacks of the young hatchlings is that their parents are not around to care for them."

The omnivorous Masheer feeds on aquatic plant and fruits and has a life expectancy of 30 years.

Asked what he planned to do with the first batch of hatchlings, he said the fry would be kept under close watch.

"Now that I have stabilised the first generation of captive-bred Masheer, my goal is to condition them for spawning and hopefully, we will have a steady supply in the future."

Australian rookie goes into seabass farming

http://www.nstp.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sa...icle/index_html

MARANG: He knew next to nothing about rearing seabass but that didn't stop Mohd Izlan @ Ivan Passtell from taking the plunge anyway.
The 56-year-old Australian, who has made Malaysia his home for the past 24 years, set up a seabass farm at Kampung Pasir Puteh in Merchang five months ago.

He said it was enough to know that he and his 61-year-old wife Zaleha Hassan liked to eat fish.

Mohd Izlan said he and his Selangor-born wife had fallen in love with Merchang and had bought a beach frontage property three years ago.

"We stumbled upon it by chance when we made a stop at a local bakery for a loaf of bread.
"We saw a land-for-sale sign posted not too far away by the roadside.

"One thing led to another and three years later, with a house almost completed and a fish farm fully operational, we are now proud to call Merchang home," he said.

Mohd Izlan who previously worked in the timber industry, said he would not have been so quick to invest RM150,000 without advice from seabass expert Patrick Lee, who runs a hatchery and nursery nearby.

Mohd Izlan said it was simple mathematics. After paying less than RM1 for each fish, he can sell the fully grown 500-gramme to 1kg fish for a minimum of RM10 each.

"At the moment, I'm not going to worry about spawning, larval rearing or producing fry.

"I'm getting 5cm to 7cm long fish from Patrick.

"I now have about 12,000 fish in my 12 polyethelyne tanks and it takes between three and five months for them to be ready for market," he said.

"The trick is to keep the fish alive and well.

"Thus far, I have managed to maintain a more than 95 per cent survival rate.

"I have learned that cleanliness is everything in fish farming. I change the water in my tanks every day and I avoid using chemicals," he said.

Lee said such controlled fish farming was better than the more common method of raising seabass in cages in a natural body of water.

"Of course it's a lot cheaper to raise seabass in cages and let nature take its course, but the farmers are lucky to have a 50 per cent survival rate."

In the meantime, Mohd Izlan said that judging by the current progress, his first harvest next month could be bountiful enough to offset a big chunk of his initial investment.

brother this is not SME loan. this is Min of Rural development. so its different.

yeah i know but this funding is NOT for SME. and moreover your criteria clearly states that BUMI only.

where are you stationed ?
in Putrajaya ?

http://biz.thestar.com.my/bizweek/story.as...279&sec=bizweek

Xian Leng shows that ornamental fish is big business

AT one time or another, most of us have kept fish at home, ranging from the nondescript varieties caught in ditches to prized specimens whose cost may take a chunk out of our monthly salaries. It is a common hobby, and as often is the case, one man's hobby is another man's business.

In fact, the ornamental fish sector is a huge one globally. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) describes it as "a widespread and global component of international trade, fisheries, aquaculture and development".

It says: "The entire industry, when non-exported product, wages, retail sales and associated materials are considered, has been estimated to be worth US$15bil."

Tan: About 80% to 85% of our production goes to Singapore for re-export
For an idea of the breadth of the industry, consider Netherlands-based Ornamental Fish International, a worldwide trade association that claims to represent all sectors of the ornamental aquatic industry in some 40 countries.

On its membership roll are consultants, manufacturers, publishers, wholesalers, collectors, breeders, retailers, importers, exporters, plant specialists, freight forwarders, airlines and exhibition companies.

The biggest market is the United States, with about 10% of its households keeping ornamental fish. The other major export destinations are Japan and the European Union. But what is intriguing is that many of the fish comes from this part of the world.

Malaysia is the world's No.1 producer and second largest exporter of ornamental fish. The country's leadership position in production is significant because more than 90% of freshwater ornamental fish are captive bred.

"Not many people know this," says Xian Leng Holdings Bhd executive director Tan Cheng Kiat. "Singapore is the top exporter. About 80% to 85% of our production goes to Singapore for re-export." Singapore is said to be strong in the export market largely because it has more air connections and its government is more facilitative.

However, these advantages may not be enough to keep Singapore in the lead for very long. Tan, who is a former deputy director-general of the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, applauds the Government's efforts in expanding Malaysia's production and exports of ornamental fish.

For one thing, the industry offers a lot of potential. "It's a huge field to go into. There are 500 to 600 varieties of ornamental fish. There's no way anybody can produce them all," he says.

"And it's a growing hobby. As countries develop, the people will need more recreational activities. Keeping fish is easy to do and it brings out good qualities such as gentleness and caring. It helps develop character in children. And it's good for stress relief."

Tan believes that there is nothing to stop Malaysia from taking on a bigger slice of the global business if the right strategies are adopted. "It is a young industry. There's a lot of growth ahead. Malaysia is a tropical country and we can produce year-round," he points out.

"We have breeders in Penang who are are world-famous for their discus, and there are those in Ipoh who have specialised in koi and goldfish. That kind of expertise exists in this country. It can be done."

Xian Leng's breeding ponds in Batu Pahat
The Ninth Malaysia Plan, spanning 2006 to 2010, targets 21.5% growth for aquaculture, as compared with the 8.3% recorded during the previous five years. Ornamental fish is part of the focus, and the aim is to increase production from 456 million tails to 800 million tails.

A pivotal move was the decision to allocate 39 Aquaculture Industry Zones (AIZs) and to provide the necessary infrastructure and support services for the development of the sector.

Last October, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said these AIZs require RM2bil in investments and would be opened to local and foreign investor in 2008. He added that his ministry has identified 25,000ha of land throughout the country for the AIZs.

This is important, Tan says, because land is a necessary for fish breeders to operate. "There is no shortage of investors if there is land," he adds.

In a speech in London last July, Muhyiddin said, "We target that by 2010, we will produce 603,530 tonnes of fish with a value of RM4.02bil. Indeed, there is immense potential for investment in this sector especially for high-tech and capital-intensive aquaculture projects such as shrimp and fish projects."

He added, "We have created zoning systems for the export-oriented industry in ornamental fish and aquatic plants. Currently the industry places its main focus on high-value species such as the Arowana and Discus fishes. Britain's expertise in the production in these species would be of great advantage for profitable joint ventures."

Tan agrees that know-how is a crucial ingredient in the ornamental fish industry. "You must have the technology. We are dealing with live fish. Anything dead has no value," he explains.

Anybody who doubts that that the ornamental fish industry can be big business should take a look at Xian Leng, a breeder and supplier of Asian Arowana and other ornamental fish. The company was listed on the second board of Bursa Malaysia in December 2001 and transferred to the main board in September 2003.

Currently, the industry places its main focus on high-value species such as the Arowana
Its major achievement was to be the first Asian company to secure Cites (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species) registration, permitting the trading of the Asian Arowana. The company is also a pioneer in the creation of new Asian Arowana variants.

It received the KPMG Shareholders' Value Award in 2004 and the stock was an analyst favourite at one time. Price competition in recent years has been a challenge for the company, but that underscores the fact that the attractiveness of the industry has drawn in more players.

It also means that investors in the sector must have airtight game plans and strong execution skills to ensure success in the field.

yeah i would also like to know your reason in picking this kind of chilli.

is there a demand in the local market for it?

may i ask what technology are you using from Australia and which company is it from? thanks would love to know more...

Hi MichaelJ.,

since you are an expert on oil palm. i would like to ask a question

the waste from Oil Palm when their oils are extracted, what can be done about the waste ?

any commercial purpose for the waste ?

thanks

hi how are you?

glad to have you around.

how's the Hybrid Grouper doing ? and how is Prof Saleem ?

no i am not from UMS. i just happen to know Prof Saleem during an exhibition and he invited me to do practical at UMS on the Hybrid Groupers...

great research being done on the hybrid groupers. i understand they can grow quite fast.

Hi Darkus,

what's the investment like for Fish Protech. i heard its very very expensive for one module. are you with Maju Ikan ?

8 module for RM 2 million.

how much is the production per module ?

got time to inform us more on these few topics ?

you are i am very interested...hehe

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Kianwai,

are those plastic sheets covering the soil ?

my sincere belief is that if the Govt Agencies opens up abit more rather than being siding one side...am sure the country will prosper especially the agriculture and aquaculture sector.

hi daniel,

why dont you come to our meet up on the 29th March @ Nando Mid Valley.