{"id":11853,"date":"2007-02-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2007-02-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wordpress\/2007\/02\/01\/upgrading-of-the-agriculture-research-facilities\/"},"modified":"2007-02-01T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2007-02-01T00:00:00","slug":"upgrading-of-the-agriculture-research-facilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rakansarawak.com\/v3\/2007\/02\/01\/upgrading-of-the-agriculture-research-facilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Upgrading of the Agriculture Research Facilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

During the 8th<\/sup> Malaysia Plan (8MP), the Department of
\nAgriculture (DOA) Sarawak implemented many upgrading processes regarding its
\nagriculture research facilities. The <\/span>types
\nof upgrades that were carried out by the DOA are as follows:<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Laboratory
\nequipment and facilities<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n
    \n
  • More than RM
    \n3,000,000 was spent towards acquiring new and modern laboratory equipment and
    \ninstruments such as microscopes and a \u201385oC freezer for the Research Division\u2019s
    \nlaboratories over the last 5 years.<\/span><\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    \n<\/div>\n

    Post harvest
    \nfacilities<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

    \n<\/div>\n
      \n
    • In the last 4 years, more than RM 500,000 was spent on upgrading the
      \npost harvest buildings and facilities as well as carrying out post harvest
      \nstudies.<\/span><\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n<\/div>\n

      Infrastructure facilities and farming improvement<\/span><\/font><\/h1>\n
      \n<\/div>\n
        \n
      • The upgrading of
        \nthe infrastructure facilities included the construction of permanent rain
        \nshelters (buildings with transparent houses), plant houses and vegetable net
        \nhouses. The irrigation and drainage system and the existing access road system
        \nto the Research Division\u2019s various experimental stations were also improved
        \nupon. All in all, a total of more than RM 3,000,000 was spent.<\/span><\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        \n<\/div>\n

        Plant and
        \nfarm machinery<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

        \n<\/div>\n
          \n
        • The acquisition
          \nof new plant and farm machinery amounted towards a total of approximately RM
          \n1,000,000. This ranged from farm tractors, excavators, power tillers and brush
          \ntillers.<\/span><\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
          \n<\/div>\n

          The purpose of upgrading these facilities was to enhance the
          \nResearch Division\u2019s research and development (R & D) programme. It also was
          \na means of improving the quality of the harvested produce and making them more
          \nmarketable, not to mention improving the productivity and produce quality of
          \nplanting material through breeding (a combination of conventional and
          \nbiotechnological agriculture) and the biotechnological programme (the
          \ncultivation of tissue culture).<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

          \n<\/div>\n

          The upgrading process was implemented based on the yearly funds that
          \nwere allocated from either the state or federal government. Purchases through
          \nopen quotations or other government agencies i.e. JKR were also part of this
          \nprocess. Notably, the DOA achieved more than 90% of its upgrading process goals
          \nduring the 8MP.The timeline for all these upgrading processes depended on the
          \nfunds that were available and the implementing agency. However, it is important
          \nto remember that such upgrades are continual processes <\/span>and will be carried through into the 9th<\/sup>
          \nMalaysia Plan (9MP).<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

          \n<\/div>\n

          In relation towards agricultural research within Sarawak, this
          \nupgrading has led to the transfer of technology (TOT) and a vast growth <\/span>within
          \n<\/span>DOA\u2019s R & D resources. There now exists a generation of new and
          \nmodern technology for farmers to use. Herein lies a strong support base for the
          \ncrop industry and improving the commercial production of produce. The benefits
          \nfrom this upgrading have resulted in reducing production costs, ensuring that
          \nthe agricultural resources are not wasted and that the labour input is more
          \neffective.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

          \n<\/div>\n

          A prominent example that reflects an extremely positive outcome from
          \nupgrading the agriculture research facilities is the DOA\u2019s analytical services
          \nlaboratory. It was the first agricultural laboratory in the Malaysian
          \ngovernment sector to receive national and international accreditation and
          \nrecognition. In 1999, the laboratory was granted the ISO G25 accreditation for
          \na 2-year period. This was followed by the ISO 17025 accreditation in 2002.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

          \n<\/div>\n

          Another benefit is seen in the improvement of quality through good
          \nagricultural practices (GAP). With GAP, the newly upgraded and packaged
          \ntechnology will produce high yielding crops through the usage of high yield
          \nvarieties. In turn, this will create a consistency towards the production
          \namount of crops, resulting in produce that is free from pesticide residue , has
          \na high nutritive value and longer shelf life. Aesthetic value also comes into
          \nplay, as the produce will be aesthetically pleasing and uniformed. Overall, the
          \nDOA\u2019s main focus in relation to this upgrading is to ensure that an increase in
          \nthe earnings for Sarawakian farmers in a sustainable manner without destroying
          \nthe environment.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

          \n<\/div>\n

          Suffice to say, the upgrading of the DOA\u2019s agriculture research
          \nfacilities have proven to be a great success in terms of expanding its scope
          \nwithin the field of agricultural research and hopefully this will continue in
          \nthe 9MP.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

          \n<\/div>\n

          Acknowledgement and thanks to Mr. Lai Kui Fong, Senior Assistant
          \nDirector (Research) of the Department of Agriculture Sarawak<\/span><\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

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