Rubber trees face new enemy

  by Professor Dato Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim,

Natural rubber constantly faces debilitating diseases. The most lethal disease on record is the leaf disease, which is endemic in Brazil's host country. Yes, the South American Leaf Blight (SALB) has stalked the natural rubber industry for years.

There is no treatment for the disease. A new rubber leaf disease, pestalotiopsis, is creating a big scare.

The disease appears during heavy rain. When infected, rubber trees lose a lot of leaves, thus lowering latex yields by up to 20 percent.

There's no treatment for it. The other worry is that trees infected with pestalotiopsis can develop other diseases like phythoptera.

Experts in rubber diseases have proposed doing collaborative research to find solutions.

Under the umbrella of the International Rubber Research and Development Board, the research will involve collaboration among scientists from rubber-producing countries.

They say any single approach may not be able to control the disease.

They propose an integrated approach to tackle it.

This refers to a decision-based approach involving multiple tactics to control pathogens.

These may include site selection and preparation; using disease-resistant planting materials; altering planting practices; modifying the environment by drainage; irrigation; pruning; thinning; shading; and applying pesticides.

We also need to monitor environmental factors, including temperature, moisture, soil pH, and nutrients.

Disease forecasting and establishing economic thresholds are other measures.

An accurate diagnosis of the causal agents is needed. Without correct identification and diagnosis, it will be challenging to design a disease control scheme.

An understanding of the disease cycle, including climatic and other environmental factors that influence the cycle, and cultural requirements of the host plant, are also needed to manage the disease.

Climate change is partly to blame for this disease. Research is the only way to develop a solution.

Let's expand rail transport

 by Professor Dato Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim,

Kudos to the government for reverting to the earlier rail transport policy. Many are encouraged by the government's stand to expand the rail network.

We talk a lot about investing more in public transport. Rail is the most efficient and best way to move people and goods.

As the electric mode of rail transport becomes more viable, rail is also the best way to reduce the nation's carbon footprint.

We also talk a lot about achieving net zero by 2050.

These noble aims should be reflected in our transport policy because the transport sector is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions.

The East Coast Rail Line project, which links the east coast states with the capital, will boost the east coast's economy.

Even the high-speed rail (HSR) project, which has been shelved, should be reconsidered.

Many are encouraged that the government has revived the Mass Rapid Transit 3 project.

The announcement about the start of phase one of the Mass Rapid Transit 2 Putrajaya line is welcome news

The Gemas-Johor-Baru electric line reaching completion is more good news.

Many believe rail projects should be widened to include Penang, Ipoh, and Johor Baru.

The largest source of emissions is transported especially cars. As recommended by the Smart City Framework a few years ago, the investment in public transport should be intensified.

What better way to do that than the investment in electric rail.

This can reduce traffic.

Rail can also be an effective way to disperse the urban population. We saw how urban living was not helpful when dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

More rail links should be considered for population centers near the Klang Valley, including southwards to Seremban, northwards to Tanjung Malim, Perak, and eastwards to Bentong, Pahang.

An investment in rail should form part of the national agenda.

Spending RM4b on grain corn imports wasteful

by Professor Dato Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim, 

CORN is in the news again. It started with the rise in prices of chicken, the most popular source of protein for Malaysians.

The supply and price of chickens sparked a heated discussion on social media.

Various analyses and theories were shared on the issue, but one that constantly popped up concerning chicken feed.

It then became known to the public that the hike in prices was connected to the cost of animal feed, which is a significant expenditure in the production of chickens.

The spike in the global price of animal feed is rooted in the Russia-Ukraine conflict as well as supply shortfalls from other major producing countries, not to mention the yet-to-be resolved logistics that were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The grain corn industry is relatively small in Malaysia. However, the development of the livestock industry, especially ruminants, broilers, and swine, requires millions of tonnes of grain corn as the main component of their feeds.

Malaysia imports nearly 100% of its grain corn needs from countries like Brazil and Argentina. There have been efforts to grow our own corn before, with many farmers joining the venture to supply the domestic market. Even rubber smallholders grew corn to supplement their income.

Unfortunately, there was no proper channel to market their produce. As a result, much was left to rot or sold at prices not befitting their investment.

Like everything else, there needs to be a proper and efficient market for corn if it is to become a commodity. Palm oil is a good example of a commodity that benefits from the presence of an efficient market.

The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry is targeting a 30% increase in grain corn production for the animal feed industry in the next five years. This is to meet the demand and accommodate the need for animal feed while reducing our dependence on imported grain corn. Grain corn has been cultivated in Malaysia since the 80s, but this crop is not popular among farmers who prefer to grow sweet corn, which fetches a higher price.

Other countries in ASEAN are way ahead of us in terms of grain corn production.

One study has suggested some reasons why grain corn farming has not really taken off in Malaysia. There is no suitable variety to be planted; the cost of production is very high; there is no suitable machinery available, especially for harvesting and drying, and there is not much government support and intervention in marketing the produce.

It is no wonder then that Malaysia must import grain corn every year. We import about 300,000 tonnes, which cost almost RM4bil. This is a big drain on the nation’s foreign exchange. Furthermore, the amount spent has been increasing by 10% every year.

The government has targeted the cultivation of about 80,000ha of grain corn nationwide by 2033, but how do we make sure that this target is realized?

What is going to be different this time around in terms of the strategy? What are the lessons we can learn from past efforts?

We need to avoid repeating the past mistakes moving forward, otherwise, we will again embark on a similar program a few years down the road.