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Issue 9 July 2012

Introduction

THE AGRI & AQUA CULTURING NEWSLETTER is prepared with the intention to provide the reader with information

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THE AGRI & AQUA

CULTURING NEWSLETTER

To Further Malaysia’s Agriculture & Aquaculture Industry

CONTENT OF THE JULY 2012 ISSUE:

Durian Season at Mantin by Johnny Lak 2

My Little Farm 8 by Raymond 5 The Essence of Life ~ Porcupine Dates by Senny Ong 7

Aquaculture Part 7 by “MJ” Joel 9

Upcoming Events 13

So, the Bioeconomy Initiative Malaysia Lab Session has

ended.

What that means is that many new opportunities have

just become available for the bio-industry, which

includes agriculture. If the list of 42 projects released by

Agensi Innovasi Malaysia (AIM) is anything to go by,

there really are huge areas of opportunity for the

agriculture and aquaculture community to tap into!

Stay tuned for next few newsletters, as we delve further

into opportunities in the agriculture and aquaculture

industries!

FROM THE CULTIVATOR’S COUCH:

Issue 9 July 2012

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Durian Season at Mantin

After getting hold of the durian orchard late last

year, we managed to fertilise them for about 6

months before the durian trees were able to flower

and bear fruit and thus harvesting.

All my farms use Organic Fertilisers, like

Fermented Organic Materials (FOM), SP2 for

fruiting purposes and Micron-Calcium. I don’t

believe in Chemical Fertiliser over the long run

because it’s not sustainable and it’s not good for

the durian trees.

In Mantin the durian seasons are in End May –

June & July while the second season is usually

around December.

It’s a hive of activity in Mantin recently during the

durian season. People will throng this place just to

get hold of wonderfully tasty durians. Imagine

travelling far away just to get to Mantin to savour

Mantin durian. People in Mantin are very proud of

their durian as they say many people likes Mantin

durian.

There are at least 6 durian collectors in Mantin.

One of them is an Indian guy by the name of Siva.

He runs the show at one of the collecting station

with his younger brother.

Pictures:-

Durian flowers…

Fruiting of durians…

Varieties of Durian Harvested

Issue 9 July 2012

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Visitors are the Durian Farm

At The Durian Collector Station

Durian Knife

Issue 9 July 2012

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What else but the famous Musang King

Musang King….

Article by Johnny Lak

Issue 9 July 2012

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My Little Farm 8

Mother Nature, the weather.

This is the first drought since taking over the farm full

time (Oct, 2011) and finding it a big challenge. Even

though am anticipating it, we still have difficulties as at

now.

We started off our preparation by shoring up the main

pond, thinking of keeping a higher reserve of water.

Then we clean up the water kangkongs. We then

proceed to fire up the water pump, which had been

redundant for the past few months. Did a general

servicing like changing the engine oil, spark plug, clean

the air filter & etc. Upon running, we find the pressure

built up is a bit low and plenty of air bubbles. The fault

was traced to the leaky in-take hose. Cost is high for

this hose as it is non-collapsible. Had it replaced.

We felt so confident after preparing all these and

waited for the dry season to come.

Unfortunately our timing was a bit out as we were

unable to fill our main pond fully before the drought

came. This time, it came covering a much bigger area.

Our water sources consist of pipe in gravity water that

we share with our neighbors’, there is a small creek

that runs across our little farm. From this creek, we

had dug 2 water retention ponds. A well was dug at

our neighbor’s land. We managed to get by last year.

What we did was that we use the pipe in water to fill

our retention ponds. The pipe in water is from a small

river a couple of kilometers away.

With more than 23 days of no rain in between, our

creek had dried up. The well had dried up. The river,

water is getting less and it cannot create a pressure to

reach us as we are at the end of the pipe and could be

at a high level.

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The pump was shifted lower and closer to the pond as

the suction power is insufficient to lift the water. Due

to the water shortage, we quickly put up a shade for

our Avocado seedlings.

The shade is a D70, meaning that it is supposed to

block off 70% of the sun light. With the strong sun light

I think it may not be sufficient. Maybe should had gone

for D90 instead.

Had been checking on the weather forecast daily,

expecting rain in the coming week. Let’s hope it arrive

in time. Stay tune to see if we manage to get by this

drought.

Article by Raymond

Issue 9 July 2012

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The Essence of Life ~ Porcupine Dates

For the past one week I had been away and spent my

days in Hospital to look after my sick dad. The whole

family is so exhausted and so hopeless seeing him in

coma condition. He was admitted Intensive Care Unit

in coma and critical condition due to food poisoning

and highly uric acid foods ingestion. The intestine

containing e-coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria and which

went into his blood, urine and brain cells. Plus his

constants vomiting caused dehydration and lost of

fluids. After heavy vomiting and the stomach acid have

destroyed his esophagus becomes inflamed and sore.

To his illness condition and urination is getting lessen,

and doctor said he may have to going through the

operation procedure by insert a small tube; this

operation procedure is called ureteral stent through

the bladder into the ureter to restore the flow of urine

to the bladder, as he is in difficulty to pass urine due to

the swollen and inflammation kidney. Increase of urine

creatinine level may leads to kidney failure, and certain

complication has causes this syndrome.

We all so much so rejected this operation as he is still

in the unstable, high fever, and critical condition, partly

due to his elderly as the reasons, we think he is not

advisable to going through this suffer again to increase

risk. Moreover, he had done this surgery last year that

really gave him uncomfortable and painful for months.

It does not help much and causes other complications

to him. The stent may have to remaining in place for

short-term or maybe long term basis.

The doctor has no guarantee that surgery would save

his life. At this stage, we rejected the doctor’s

suggestion; doctor warned us and he would not

responsible for our intention for not doing the

insertion of ureteral stent for urination operation. We

afraid the surgery may worsening the infection.

To our surprise he was awakened from the coma, it is

miracle. But he can’t talk and eat. The throat

incubation has save his lives but also caused

inflammation to his throat. And what we can do it to

first reduces his inflamed throat to minimize the pains

and fever. Secondly, is to control the uric acid and help

in passing urination by natural way to reduce the

swollen kidney. At this moment, we came to the

conclusion of using alternative way of homeopathic

remedy for detoxification process, to get rid of his

inflamed throat and kidney.

I came across this miracle stuff that suggested by my

mom and sister. At first, we were quite discouraged to

use such an expensive way of homeopathic treatment,

reason is how truth and any harmful side effect after

all. So I surf online for further information, and I came

to this website and found out more. Then from what

we had tried on him, it is really a good stuff for

alternative healing instead of going through operation

procedure. This is only the alternative way to soothe

and lessen his throat inflammation at the first place,

when we decided to do so. But anyhow, we had done

with the doctor’s supervision.

We bought this stuff from Chinese medicine shop. To

be frankly, the price is shocking high, due to its

valuable effect, hard to find also one of the reason, and

we also can’t believe it.

At first, I told my friends about this stuff and its

benefits, it is a miracle alternative medicine to my dad,

and my friend suggested whether I would place this

article on my “Simply Senz” blog?

I just simply answer my friend that ‘it is such an

expensive medicine, this may cause the crisis of price to

the medicine’; hopefully not. Yet still many peoples are

not awake of its usage and useful benefits in

alternative way of healing. So now I decided to place

here as an alternative healing reference to my

readers.

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After few doses of feeding to my dad with this

‘Porcupine Dates’, though I still can’t believe the

goodness of its healing. After a short period of 2 days,

he has rapidly recovered and reduces of painful throat;

the ulcer in his mouth has reduced. Now he can talk

and drink some liquid foods. Fever has been reduced.

His urination is flow smoothly and clears without the

crystal substance in it. The creatinine count in the

urine,values range from 4700/mg has dropped and

reduces rapidly to 1700/mg in normalize level.

The name of this stuff is called “Porcupine Dates”. In

Chinese name as “豪猪枣” or "箭猪枣" (Jian Zhu Zao)

Porcupine Dates “豪猪枣” "箭猪枣"

What is Porcupine Dates and where it comes from?

Image from: free-extras.com

This Porcupine Dates can be found in South East Asia,

that can buy from certain Chinese medicine shop.

The characteristics of Porcupine Dates are calculus

growth like a rare “stone” shape like a “date”, that

found in the stomach of a porcupine. When porcupine

is ill or injured, porcupine will find the wild growth

herbs in the forest to cure itself. As the virus is

besieged this porcupine dates will grow as the healing

progress this “dates shape stone” may form in the

stomach. The size and the medical value is based on

the duration of time, or it grows in bigger size by the

age of the porcupine.

I tasted this porcupine dates, its taste is bitter. The

benefit is to remove phlegm, detoxification, natural

immunization booster, anti-inflammation, anti-body

and supper antioxidant.

Traditionally, this has been recorded in old Chinese

medicine book. According to its valuable testimonial

has been shown successfully treat lymphoma, blood

cancer, dengue fever, fever, retention of fluid to the

lungs, lumber swollen, and herpes complex, before

operation or after surgery, diabetes and lungs

infection.

This is the video clips about “Porcupine Dates” I found

online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Pj-

Icq1s8&feature=player_embedded

What I can see that some of the “Food” can be

poisonious if overeating, also food can be a healer too.

What I am trying to say homeopathic remedy

sometimes does help a lot. Remember, before trying

any alternative homeopathic remedy please consult

your doctor or physician first.

I hope through this experience that I overcoming in

using the alternative way of homeopathic remedy to

my dad, to share it with other when situation comes to

worst stage. If needed, no harm trying to help in

minimizes the painful condition to elderly sick patient if

needed. It also depending on individual body health

condition.

Issue 9 July 2012

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Porcupine dates maybe an expensive Chinese

medicine, yet to find out more and discover more

about its medicinal value. I took the information from

one of the Chinese medicine company, hope this is not

offence of copyrights. But this may help many others

who really need more information about the good stuff

and I shared.

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.

Aquaculture Part 7: Fish Problem in the Pond

So far we have been covering about the types of fish

ponds and fish species suitable for pond rearing. This

time around, we shall cover some of the common

problems of fish in pond cultures. Fish cultured in

ponds can face some common problems: (i) They can

be stressed by a lack of oxygen; (ii) They can be eaten

by predators; (iii) They can be infested by parasites.

These problems and some solutions to these problems

are discussed in this section.

Diseases

Diseases of pond fish are caused by fungi, bacteria,

protozoans, worms, and crustaceans. Usually diseases

can be controlled by proper pond management, which

includes draining the pond, drying it, and liming it

periodically, and also by preventing wild fish or

unfiltered water from entering the pond. Some

diseases are fatal, but many can be controlled by

treating the pond or the fish with chemicals.

Some diseases attack fish in ponds because some other

factor is causing stress: overcrowding, low oxygen

levels, or not enough food. All of these conditions

weaken the fish so they can get diseases more easily.

The farmer must watch his fish for signs of stress and

disease. Any change in normal behavior may be a sign

of disease; for example, gasping at the surface for air,

rubbing the body or head against the sides of the pond,

or ragged fins and sores on the body. Something is

wrong when a fish population stops eating suddenly.

So the farmer must check the fish often, especially in

very hot weather.

FUNGAL DISEASES

Image: Branchiomyces sanguinis infection (Aquafind.com)

Gill Rot. This is a disease caused by the filamentous

fungus, Branchiomyces sanguinis. This disease is first

noticed by a red spotting on the gills. Later, the gills

become greyish-white and stop working. When the

gills stop working, the fish suffocate and die.

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Gill rot is most common during the hot part of the year

and is sometimes associated with large amounts of

dung and a "bloom" of plankton.

Treatment: Remove dead fish from the pond; the

remaining fish will probably recover. Drain the pond

and dry the bottom. Treat the pond with quicklime or

copper sulphate to kill the fungus spores. Fill the pond

again. Add quicklime every few weeks until there is no

more sign of the disease.

Image: Saprolegnia

Saprolegnia. This fungus is often associated with Gill

Rot. It attacks weakened places (e.g., bruises from

handling) on fish. Since it hits already weakened fish,

Saprolegnia attacks fish already trying to fight other

diseases. Saprolegnia looks like fuzzy, white cotton

wool and is often in tufts on the body of the fish.

Saprolegnia by itself can kill eggs and fry, but does not

kill adult fish. Indian carp are very susceptible to this

disease, and common carp eggs are attacked

frequently.

Treatment: Use the same treatment as outlined for Gill

Rot.

BACTERIAL DISEASES

Infectious dropsy. This is caused by the bacterium,

Pseudomonas punctata. The symptoms are a swelling

of the fishes' belly with water, ulcers on the skin,

lengthening of the fins, and deformation of the

backbone.

Treatment: Prevent diseased fish from entering the

pond. Bury and burn the dead fish.

Columnaris. This is another bacterial disease which

causes discolored patches on the body, loss of scales,

and, often, death. This disease can look like a fungal

disease, but it is not. If possible, it should be examined

under the microscope for positive identification. It is

caused by the bacteria Chondrococcus columnaris and

Cytophaga columnaris and is often associated with low

oxygen levels.

Treatment: Give fishes a feed which has terramycin in

it. If it is very bad, place each infected fish in a dip

(bath) of copper sulfate (2 minutes in a solution of 1 to

2,000) or a dip of malachite green (10 to 30 seconds in

a solution of I to 15,000). Treat the pond with 1 ppm of

copper sulfate.

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PROTOZOAN DISEASES

Ichthyophthirius multifilis. This is the worst protozoan

disease. The "ich" disease is caused by a ciliate which

forms white spots or pimples on the skin and fins of

the fish. Each parasite produces thousands of spores,

which can then infect other fish in the pond.

Treatment: Drain the pond, and lime it. Or treat the

fish with chemicals as follows:

1. Formalin 200-250ppm daily bath 15ppm in

pond

2. Malachite green 1.25ppm daily bath/30

minutes 0.5ppm in pond

3. Methylene blue 2ppm daily bath

4. Acriflavin 10ppm 3-20 daily baths

5. Salt 7,000ppm several daily baths

Costia and Trichodina. These are two other ciliate

diseases. They are cause by microscopic organisms

which attack the skin of fish and cause

lesions. These ciliates cannot be seen by the naked

eye, but the lesions and sores that they cause can be

seen by looking closely at the fish.

Treatment: Add 3ppm of potassium permanganate to

pond. Or dip the fish in baths of 5 to 10% sodium

chloride (salt) for 5 to 20 minutes daily for up to one

week.

CRUSTACEAN PARASITES

Lernea. The anchor worm is the most common disease

of this type (a copepod). This worm attacks the gills or

any other part of the body. It burrows into

the fish, leaving its two egg cases protruding on the

outside of the fish. Lernea causes red sores, and makes

the fish thin so that their market value is much lower.

Treatment: Add castor oil in a thin film over the

surface of the pond. Treat fish infected with young

Lernea in a formalin bath, or remove each parasite by

hand.

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Arqulus. Argulus is the fish louse. It is a flat, pinkish-red

disc that clings to the skin, fins, mouth, or gills. It sucks

blood with a piercing organ, which also injects poisons.

Young fish may die.

Treatment: Drain and lime the pond. Or place the fish

in a bath of 3 to 5% salt or 250ppm of formalin

for 1 hour.

WORM PARASITES

Dactylogyrus. This parasite attacks the gills of young

fish. The fish are exposed to this worm when they are

between 2 and 5cm long.

Treatment: Manage the pond well so that fingerlings

grow rapidly past the stage when they are

susceptible to Dactylogyrus.

Gyrodactylus. This parasite burrows into the blood

vessels of fish through the skin, causing the fish to

appear reddish with sores. This worm can cause fish to

die from emaciation.

Treatment: Treat ponds with 5 ppm formalin. Treat

fish individually in a bath of 25ppm formalin.

Bothriocephalus gowkongensis. This is the tapeworm

which often attacks the Chinese carp, especially grass

carp. It is difficult to treat this worm; it is found in the

fishes intestines.

In the next issue, we shall cover general treatments

and other problems associated with fish in ponds.

Article by “MJ” Joel

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Upcoming Event

Event Title Date Venue Website/E-mail

World Sustainable Agriculture

Congress 2012

10-12

July 2012

Swissotel Merchant Court,

Singapore

http://www.imapac.com/index.php?page=

WorldSustainableAgricultureCongress2012

2nd International Conference

on Asia Agriculture and Animal

2012

23-24

July 2012 Singapore http://www.icaaa.org/

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

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/

Issue 9 July 2012

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Contact Point:

For more details about what we do, please refer to the Lowyat Forum Thread: Venturing into Agriculture& Aquaculture

For further information or clarification please contact us at agrinaquanewsletter@gmail.com

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!