CHAPTER 4: GENETIC RESOURCES IN AGRICULTURE

4.1 ORIGIN & DISTRIBUTION OF CROP PLANTS

Centre of origin: A geographical area where are plant species either domesticated or wild, first developed its distinctive properties.  Six independent centres of crop origin are recognized which is include Mesoamerica (avocado, beans, tomatoes), Andes and South America (rubber), South East Asia (rice, brinjal,orange), China (apricot, peach, tea, ginseng) and Africa (coffee, melon, watermelon, yam, oil palm).

4.2 ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION OF LIVESTOCK, POULTRY AND FISH

Since domestication of livestock, several breeds or species of livestock, fish and poultry are reared mainly as sources of food and non-food product. These animals have been developed by breeders in many parts of the world.

With advancement of genetic materials in the form of frozen semen and embryos are commonly moved from one part of the world to another. Development and seliing of animals genetics has become a big agriculture business globally.

BEEF CATTLE

These are cattle with characteristically high growth rate and excellent meat quality.

ANGUS: Originally from the highlands of northen Scotland.

BRAHMAN: The breed has its original home in India.

HEREFORD: The breed was established in a place called Hereford, England.

DAIRY CATTLE

The dairy cattle breeds are best known for its ability to produce high milk yield.

JERSEY: Originated from Jersey the large island in the Channel Islands.

FRIESIAN: Originally from the highlands of northen Scotland.

HOLSTEIN: Originated in Holland close to 2000 years ago.

GOATS AND SHEEP

Goat and sheep are important and popular farm animals. They are reared for meat, skin, and fiber(wool and hair).

MERINO

DORPER

POULTRY

Poultry refers to chicken, duck, and turkeys.

AMERICAN CHICKEN

ASIATIC CHICKEN

CHICKEN IS DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS:

LAYERS: production of eggs

BROILERS: production of tender meat.

FISH

FRESHWATER FISH

SALTWATER FISH

4.3 GERMPLASM AND BIODIVERSITY

4.3.1 GERMPLASM

   It’s a term to describe the genetic resources or the other name is DNA of an organism and collections of the materials. Its involved any material of plan,animal, microbial, or other origin containing functional units of heredity.

4.3.2 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Have shortened to biodiversity as meaning the variability among living organisms from all sources.

GENETIC DIVERSITY

Refers to the variation of genes within a species.

SPECIES DIVERSITY

Refers to diversity amng species in an ecosystem.

ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY

Refers to diversity at a higher level of organization, the ecosystem.

4.4 GENETIC RESOURCE APPLICATIONS

Agriculture production is increased through the use of improved genetic resources created by altering the genetic constitution.

Yield

Pest and Disease Resistance

Ecological Tolerance

Green Revolution Examples

 

CHAPTER 5: AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES OF MALAYSIA

5.1 INTRODUCTION

Agriculture is an important sector in the economy of Malaysia. As the country’s economy developed and transformed Malaysia from an agricultural into an industry country, the percentage contribution of the agricultural sector to GDP declined to 7.52%.

5.2 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF MALAYSIAN AGRICULTURAL

During pre-independence development of Malaysian agricultural was shaped by the interest of the British colonialist. A major developments during this time was the production of rubber and the development of plantation agricultural.

In the post-independence period, the government set up the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) and the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (FELCRA).

5.3 CHARACTERISTIC OF MALAYSIAN AGRICULTURAL 

5.3.1 The estate and smallholder subsectors

Agricultural sector in Malaysia can be divided into estate sub-sector and smallholders sub-sector. The estate sub-sector is highly commercialized and efficiently managed by the professionals.

5.3.2 Industrial crops

Malaysian agricultural land use has been and continues to be dominated by perennial industrial crops, chiefly oil palm, rubber, coconuts, cocoa, coffee and tea.

Oil palm

 

The largest area of crops grown in Malaysia

Rubber

First major plantation crop introduced into Malaysia in 1877

Coconut

Coconut ranks the fourth most important crop in terms of the hectarage planted.

Cocoa

Has been commercially planted in Malaysia since the 1950s

       Other Industrial Crops

       

Coffee tree

Rice

Fruits

Vegetables

 

Floriculture

Livestock production

Fisheries

5.4 NEW SOURCES OF GROWTH FOR MALAYSIAN AGRICULTURE

5.4.1 HERBS & SPICES, PHARMACEUTICALS, NATURAL PRODUCTS

A new sub-sector in Malaysian agriculture that is currently experiencing rapid growth I the herbal industry.

5.5 AGRICULTURAL MARKETING

5.5.1 EXPORT CROP SECTOR

Agriculture marketing in Malaysia depends on the types of crops and commodities as well as the type of producer. In the case of palm oil production, there are three main types of oil palm producers such as independent smallholders, producers in land development schemes and private estates.

5.5.2 THE FOOD SECTOR

The food production of Malaysia is characterized by small farm size with minimal involvement of the private or corporate sectors. In the case of rice, average farm size for most farmers is 1.06ha. Besides these there are also a few rice estates run by FELCRA in Seberang Perak granary area.

CHAPTER 6: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

6.1 DEFINATION

The word “sustain” is from the Latin sustinere (sus: from below; tenere: to hold) menaing to keep in existence and implies a long-term support or permanence. Sustainable agriculture is one that produces abudant food without depleting the earth’s resources or polluting its environment.

6.2 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Sustainable agriculture as a set of commonly accepted practises or a model farm economy is merely the beginning of an idea. Although sustanability in agriculture was tied to  broader issues of the global economy, declining petroleum reserves and domestic food security, its medelers were not government policy makers but small farmers, environmentalists and a persistent cadre of agricultural scientists.

6.3 CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Sustainable systems share a vision of farming with nature, an agro-ecology that promotes biodiversity, recycles plant nutrients, protects soil from erosion, conserves and protects water.

6.4 SOCIO-POLITICAL BENEFITS

Social benefits are provided for the farm family and the community. It terms of food security, land tenure, good health and maintaining the fabric of rural communities. It involved keeping money circulating in the local economy, and maintaining the equality of life of the farming family.

6.5 PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING

Managing for the three objectives simultaneously depends on clear goa;-setting and effective desion-making. Several good tools for goal-setting, decision-making, monitoring and whole farm management  are available to farmers.