Hi Bro,

welcome to the forum.

if you are interested on the Chili Fertigation, PM me...i can direct you to a place where you can take a course and understand more for yourself.

hehe..mr farmer...i'm trying to rear at nearby unutilised fields in containers...first. then try to think of ways to encourage neighbours to feed the worms with their organic trash..not planning or even capable of going commercially for the moment..

Hi People,

Happy New Year 2012 and may all your endeavours will be great for the year.

Our January 2012 Issue of the Agri & Aqua Culturing Newsletter

http://www.mediafire.com/?gtqim41n8qz638z


Thank you to all the contributor for your articles.

What's wrong with my pumpkin? Too much water?

This fruit weights 13kg.

Update on pumpkins.
1) Planting on raised bed is definitely (Irrigated on & off, on dry days) better than flat ground / slope (rain fed).
Fruits sizes 6 to 13.5 kg Vs 0.8 to 5 kg.

Personally, I prefer fruit size of 5 ~ 8 kg as I think it's more marketable. Also it spread out the risk.
Our bad fruits

Hi MrFarmer,

I don't have any practical experience at all except some research from internet and a visit to putrajaya MOA regarding this information.
Therefore I'm really looking forward to do it practically.
From MOA info, through fertigation has its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages :
1) They says the crop yield would at least 2-3 times compare planting on ground. Long term ROI will be higher.
2) Reduces the risk of soil-borne diseases and pest.
3) More efficient and systematic irrigation and fertilization control, apparently less wastage and can eliminate irrigation problem.
4) Somehow better control (not really understand about this)
5) Overall it will give less problem.
6) Can also work for other plant like tomato and few others that I can't really remember should no longer want to plant chili

Disadvantages :
1) Very high investment needed to setup the system. MOA quote about RM20k expenditure just to setup 20' x 100'. In 1 acre alone assume land is square, can have 12 x (20' x 100'), which comes to total cost RM20k x 12 = RM240k!!. I have a partner from construction background, so I hope can significantly reduce the cost by at least 50% hopefully counting myself as labor to setup in order to save cost.
2) Such high investment require extreme dedication and real prudence. I do not want to screw up the whole thing and dissapoint my partner.
3) So the pressure is on despite the strong will to make it work.
4) Chili price has to remain high and higher to sustain the expected return on investment.
5) Any natural calamity will wipe out the heavy investment, so must take measure to evaluating risks such as flood, landslide, etc.

Many other information I have acquired from internet and word of mouth from other people as well. So I really need to have a look at the real working chili fertigation system.

Just notice you reply, thank you for the info!

Tried culturing myself in 10 cups and only 1 success, will need to review my culturing method.

I'm sure you had looked at all the angles. Should you want to start small for trial, there is the fertigation hobby set, which I think is low cost and can be set up in the back yard.



From my experience on myself, I am not even 1/4 a worker Had not been working in the field for a long time. Guess my helpers consider me as a nuisance, disrupting their work.
Yes, do your budget and plan for all eventuality.
Do keep us update on you journey.

After CNY, construction work will start on the land. Wish I know this hobby fertigation set earlier so I can try out but not enough time for it now. So I need to do as much homework as possible till the construction starts and start to do the planting. Really hope to visit an actual ongoing succesful commercial Chili fertigation system farming.

I've heard many failed stories of commercial chili farming, but I find those factors of risk could be reduce significantly or even eliminate it with some serious dedication.

I believe the bigger the problem you solve, the more money you can earn.

hi bro,

if you are interested to visit a commercial chili fertigation system i can point you to one at Kajang.

will post once i get the info

---

Added on January 4, 2012, 6:40 pmsurf to this website :- http://my-fertigasi.com/

they have a fertigation course which is quite affordable and they have a commercial farm running

This post has been edited by ParaOpticaL: Jan 4 2012, 06:40 PM

That's great, I live at Kajang too

Say, they have a course on 22nd Jan. Do you know how much they charge?

then you can go there for the course.

the course is RM 200.00 per pax

The person who organize the course is the owner of his own farm?

yes he is. his name is Marzuki

hi, i am new to this forum and i am interested to understand more about agriculture thingy. To my amaze this forum actually have lots of information regarding agriculture and aquaculture, and failure experience contribution that willing to share with us. good job there!

Ok, i am a greenhorn in this field and hope all of the pros can nourish me like plants. just kidding. Please give me advice as i am thinking whether or not into venturing agriculture line.
Here is my story, i am not a farmer, and i`m currently working in other sector line which totally different from agri and i 'm base in pj. i'm currently thinking of purchasing an agriculture land using my lifetime saving. The reason i choose agriculture land instead of house is that, erm.... agri land cheaper than house in pj. =P and pj house i can't afford to buy too expensive and bank wont loan me that much.

At first i think of just simpan the land and wait for land harga naik for long term. But this is not good coz i need to service bank loan and no rental income. Sumore earn salary just to service the loan for long period of years.haiz.. btw currently i'm looking at at 1-2 acre agriland.

That's y i think its best to make use of the land to plant something rather than leaving there to rott. and i have full time job this makes more unfit to do farming.

All proffesional here please give me hint, guidance for what to do with the land? and i got some silly question to ask , hope all you all dont mind.

1. is there any fast growing plant that doesn't need to take care often?
like 1 month see 1 time ? through browsing the post , i have come accross some plants like chili, serai, herbs(plenty of herbs there but which wan suits me best?) and aka wood, or maybe some wormy business ^^ ?

2. if let say plant those crops that mention above, estimate what's the return ? erm.... i know it sounds silly thinking of harvesting already, but honest speaking i need to know what is the return so that i can plan what to plant for me to service the bank.

3. The maintenence of the plant. Well if got any plant which don't need constant care? But i willing to plant them first, and during harvesting i have some foreigner in my line which i can use as manpower but have to pay.

4. theft plantation? if i`m not there for 1 month will my corpse gone? any idea to prevent? i`m thinking if the aka wood thingy will be the best, but 6-10 years before can harvest *_*" i think i will being sued to bankrupt by bank.

Please please nourish me >.<"

---

Added on January 4, 2012, 11:18 pm5. forgot to ask 1 more. the plants/chili / fruits / bananas/ herbs/ wood/ tongkat ali?? whom to sell? open stall and sell? sell to pasar borong? market ? but i think these middle people will squeeze the price till dry ?is there other alternative place to sell? export? end-user? factory ?

This post has been edited by loongloong3: Jan 4 2012, 11:18 PM

I am not someone qualify to say what is right or wrong because I do not have experience in agriculture either. Still doing my research and homework. But these are the mindset I'm going to instil myself with.

1) No shortcut mentality, go all out with 100% dedication fulltime untill desirable outcome.
2) Then refine the system for better efficiency on time spent and cost, while achieving higher yield.
3) The system can never be good enough, it's always and always will be the challenge to fine tune the system that work to make it work better and better.

Some of the homework that I did :-

1) Visit the retail market often including pasar, and hypermarket
2) Pay a visit to MOA at putrajaya (I buta buta go there myself) and yes info can get.
3) Ask around those who has experience (very important)
4) Internet research
5) Ask yourself how far are you willing to go to achieve what you want to achieve.
6) Do a proper planning

Finally...

ACTION!


Anymore direction that can be helpful in research and planning that all the sifu here can give more ?

This post has been edited by M_century: Jan 4 2012, 11:32 PM

Hi All,

It took me few days to finish all the posts here. It is very interesting and provides me information to deal with the problem I had with my land. I have 2 pieces of land which have been abandoned for quite a long times. My new year resolution is to get myself into agriculture and produce a good result from my lands. I have one constraint is the location of my lands are far from where I stay. I work in KL and the lands are in Johor. I am only able to travel back for 1 day every 2 weeks. Therefore, I hired workers to take care of the land now.

1. 5 acres 6 years old Oil Palm tree.
Issue
- Weeds
- Pests
- Low production – only able to get 3.1 tones last month. Not able to get previous data. I only know the highest production is about 6 tones.
- Some trees also have infection.

2. 7 acres Fruit farm ( Durian, Langsat, Cempedak)
Issue
- weeds
- pests ( lots of termites )
- durian and cempedak trees have infection.

I will continue to post my journey and photo( how to post pictures?) to battle the issues in my farms.

May I know is there any reference/books/guide available for durian tree? I just planted 35 musang king in the fruit farm 2 months ago, there are 5 trees already said goodbye to me now.

---

Added on January 5, 2012, 7:02 pmi read some oil plantation forum b4, and for 6 ekar can yield 3.1 tons consider ok lo, not too bad lo. As investment ok lo, 3 ton can sell estimate 1.5k ++ right ?

This post has been edited by loongloong3: Jan 5 2012, 07:02 PM

Welcome to the club loongloong3, do spend some time here, and you'll need to decide, whether Agriculture is the direction you want to go. There is up & down (just as with any business) in Agriculture. Do decide and plan properly before you embark on this or any business plan that you have.
Kindly understand that agriculture land is totally different from housing land. Bank loans, appreciation (or depreciation), disposal (when you sell), land condition, maintenance and etc.
As with any business, higher risk, higher return. Exotic / high value corps give high return. You'll need to start from working out what is your amount to service your bank loan, that is cost of land, amount loaned, repayment period. (FYI last few years when I check, agri land max 45% loan, and this is if you have good relation with the bank, maybe get higher if there is a structure).
Yes, there are plants that needs lesser care and there are plants that need more care. You may also mechanize some manual labor. Here we still have some "gotong royong style" (you help me, I help you method).
My personal experience, theft are mostly petty thief. Not serious. Lost about 6 Cavendish sucklings, about 25 grafted rubber trees, some ripe pumpkins. Personally I don't think this warrant any serious consideration as farm gate prices are just very low.
Just as with any business, there is a vast difference in Farm Gate price to Retail price, just like Factory prices vs Retail prices. Every one has their role to play, and everyone has their own set of expenses. Depending how aggressive is you marketing strategy, there are lots of avenue to market/target your produce. Since it's 1~2 acres, you most probably don't need to worry about exporting yet.
Hope these helps.

---

Added on January 5, 2012, 8:05 pmWow, a go getter.
I guess a work progress schedule (clearing, fixture, irrigation), planting and estimated harvesting schedule (amount & date) shall help you prepare better. Securing a market before that shall also help.

Say, where's your farm? Can visit (even during starting?)

---

Added on January 5, 2012, 8:23 pmHi Kg Teratai,
Weeds in plantation, we are having good success with Glyphosate Isopropylamine 41% + 2,4-D Butyl Ester 45% + Wetting agent in the rubber plantation.
As for low production, guess you'll need to find out the actual caused. Once rectified you may want to look at EM (effective Microbes / Enzyme).
Guess you are doing alright, since you've already identified your problem, un-like me, when I started, don't even know what is wrong. Just keep working on it.

I post pic by 1st loading it to Photobucket http://photobucket.com/
Hope these helps.


This post has been edited by MrFarmer: Jan 5 2012, 08:23 PM

Bro M_Century, personally i like you style. action-oriented and realistic. its a very hands-on thing

keep it up man




Bro Kg Teratai & loongloong3, on the issue of Oil Palm Yield i think the resident expert would be MJ Joel. He was previously with United Plantation as a plant breeder and now currently attached with Bio-Tech Malaysia.

Kg Teratai, on your land problems that will be a problem in future if you keep hiring foreign help instead of working on it. i can also understand that detaching yourself from your full time job to an unknown area of agriculture is very risky.

BUT there is an option, you can consider changing job to Johor so you can nearer to your land and pick up things faster.






Bro MrFarmer, agree with you on the loan part. they would allow between 40-50%. because land is deemed NOT FAST TURNAROUND.

Theft wise not much just petty thief just here and there...haha