7.

5 Plantation Agriculture
1. Characteristics & Historical Overview 2. Inputs/Processes/Output 3. Case study: Oil Palm Malaysia
Pg 54

Plantation Agriculture
Can we classify rice as a plantation crop? No. Although it has become a commercial enterprise most of the farmers are still subsistence in nature Size of the farms are small farmers sell the surplus to the middleman who will then transport them to the mill for processing, packing and exporting. However, the size of a plantation is at least 40 hectares. Cash crops are grown instead of staples.

Where is Plantation Agriculture Practised in Asia?

Mainly in Peninsular Malaysia Islands of Sumatra and Java in Indonesia Philippines

Why?

Historical Overview
1. Colonial period (18th & 19th centuries) British : rubber plantations in Msia Dutch : coffee, sugar & spices in Indonesia 2. Climate Hot & wet climate favoured perennial cultivation of sugar cane & rubber

3. Demand Great demand in Europe & local industries

Changing Character of Plantation Agriculture

1. Used to be foreign-owned now largely owned by government or private companies 2. Govt encouraging setting up of plantations subsidise capital investments of subsistence farmers who switch to plantation agriculture Eg. Land resettlement schemes by FELDA Federal Land Development Authority

Characteristics of Plantation
INPUTS
1. Physical Factors Land Size Relief Climate Soil 2. Human Factors
Labour type

Machines/Tools
Capital Fertilisers
Refer to activity book pp 37-38!

OUTPUTS

What is Plantation Agriculture?

It is a type of commercial farming where one particular crop is grown on a large scale and sold for cash and export. Rubber, oil palm, coconut, pineapple, banana, tea, coffee and sugar cane

Case Study: Plantation Agriculture

Oil Palm Plantations in Malaysia

Case Study: Oil Palm Plantation Peninsular Msia

1. Describe & explain the distribution of oil palm plantations in Msia 2. Importance of palm oil industry to Msia & the world 3. Limitations & problems faced by oil palm plantations

Oil Palm Plantations in Msia -IntroductionDid you know?

Msia is worlds largest producer & exporter of palm oil since 1971 Oil palm is Msias main cash crop

Oil Palm Plantations in Msia -Distribution-

Oil Palm Plantations in Msia -Distribution Mostly in 4 states:

Johor Both sides of the main road & railway line Selangor & Perak - Coastal lowlands
Pahang - Jengka Triangle (land development scheme for smallholders)

Oil Palm Plantations in Msia

-Factors influencing distribution1. Physical conditions
Annual r/f: at least 1,500mm + evenly distributed Temp : 24-32C Relief : flat/ undulating (gently sloping) Soil : well-drained

2. Other requirements
Labour : abundant cheap supply Transport: efficient network within estate linking mills to refineries

CHARACTERISTICS
A

single crop is grown over a large area

planted in neat rows with well-developed network of transportation and communication, connecting plantation areas, processing industries and markets together Production is mainly for the market and not for the farmers self-consumption Involves modern inputs like chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides Modern machinery is needed Labour-intensive

Oil Palm Plantations in Msia

-Reasons for importance1. Generating employment
Labour intensive, job opportunities in the field From labourers, technicians and professionals involved in the R & D .

2. Generate high earnings to Malaysia

Provide export revenue

3. Supports local industries

Provide raw materials in local industries Encourage development of local cosmetics, detergent, food and cooking oil industries

-Palm

oil is an edible plant oil

-Palm oil is naturally reddish because it contains a high amount of beta-carotene (though boiling it destroys the carotenoids and renders the oil colourless). -Palm oil is one of the few vegetable oils relatively high in saturated fats. -The oil is widely used as a cooking oil, as an ingredient in margarine, and is a component of many processed foods. -Other than cooking oil, oil palm can be used as soaps, washing powders and personal care products to treat wounds.

-In

2004, Malaysia produced 14 million tons of palm oil

-more than 38,000 square kilometres of land

-The Malaysian Sime Darby conglomerate is its largest plantation operator, with 524,626 hectares of oil palms
-Malaysia opened its first biodiesel plant in the state of Pahang

-It produces two types of oil - palm oil from the flesh of the fruit, and palm kernel oil from the seed or kernel. -For every 10 tonnes of palm oil, about 1 tonne of palm kemel oil is also obtained.

ADVANTAGES

More job opportunities for the people

Source of income for the country Wider variety of food

Effective use of vast land

DISADVANTAGES
Local

people may be exploited as cheap labour, leading to slavery

Growth of a single crop makes plantations very prone to diseases, poor weather and the fluctuation in world market prices
Fertile soil for crops exported, rather than for selfconsumption

Oil Palm Plantations in Msia

-Challenges1. Shortage of labour
-

Diff to recruit labour due to stiff competition from other economic sectors Crucial to maintaining + raising crop production because process is labourr dependent Lead to increasing production cost

2. Raising production cost

Shortage of labour has caused production to fluctuate heavy application of fertilisers: poor tropical soil + monoculture

Oil Palm Plantations in Msia

-Challenges3. Risk of disease/ pest attack
Monoculture

4. Fluctuating prices
Dependent on demand from user countries Heavy loses when price plunges

5. Competition from oil substitutes

Soya bean oil, sunflower seed oil Affects earnings

Oil Palm Plantations in Msia

-Measures to counter Problems1. Mechanisation of field operations
-

Mechanising field operations to cut down heavy dependence on labour Aircraft to spray fertilisers Employ foreign labour

2. Other forms of tech to lower production cost

To remain competitive R & D to improve efficiency of processes Produce new & value added products

Oil Palm Plantations in Msia

-Measures to counter Problems3. Foreign labour
Solve labour shortage problem

4. Enlarging present market

Eg. South America to enhance marketability Trade fairs, publications,

PROBLEMS FACED
Technology advances, reducing the need of plantation

agriculture

HYV (High-yield varieties) Short growth periods Shortage of workers

Deforestation
Destroy natural habitats

RESOURCES
IMAGES: http://images.google.com.sg/imghp?hl=en CONTEXT: http://library.thinkquest.org/26634/forest/farming/plantation.htm http://www.alfredhartemink.nl/plantations.htm http://www.slideshare.net/ http://wiki.answers.com/

Recap: Oil Palm Plantation Peninsular Msia

1. Describe & explain the distribution of oil palm plantations in Msia 1. Importance of palm oil industry to Msia & the world 2. Limitations & problems faced by oil palm plantations

Oil Palm Plantations in Msia

i.
-

Txtbk pg 131-132

-Processes- Phase 1: Cultivation

Pre-nursery stage
Good palm seeds & soaked for 7 days Sown in polythene bags containing fertile soil then kept in germinators for 2 months at 40C

iii. Main field

-

Transplanted to main field during early part of rainy season Cover crops planted bet rows of oil palm trees Fertilisers, fungicides & pesticides applied

iv. Harvesting ii.

-

Nursery stage
Transplanted to nursery & maintained for 1 yr

3 yrs after field planting Harvested using sharp knife tied to poles every wk Fruits collected manually

Oil Palm Plantations in Msia

v.
-

Txtbk pg 131-132

-Processes- Phase 2: Processing

Transport
Harvested taken to the mills (within estate) quickly to min accumulation of fatty acid Processed on the same day

viii. Digestion
Mesocarp separated from kernel & turned into digested mash under steam heated condition

vi. Sterilization
Sent to sterilisers to steam for 90 min at 1,400C

ix. Oil extraction & Purification

Mash sent to hydraulic press where oil is extracted Crude oil pumped into clarification tank at 900C Impurities sink, purer oil skimmed off the top Passed thru high speed centrifuge & vacuum dryer Stored

vii. Stripping
Sent to rotary drum stripper Stripped & separated from stalk by lifting & dropping Collected on conveyor belt leading to digester

RESOURCES
IMAGES: http://images.google.com.sg/imghp?hl=en CONTEXT: http://library.thinkquest.org/26634/forest/farming/plantation.htm http://www.alfredhartemink.nl/plantations.htm http://www.slideshare.net/ http://wiki.answers.com/

Hi-Tech Farming
1. Market Gardening 2. Case study: Spore

Did you know?!

Where do we get our supply of food and vegetables, fruits, flowers?

Johor, Cameron Highlands, Australia, China, Indonesia, Thailand Singapore!

Hi-Tech Farming
-Learning Outcomes Define & Describe the Characteristics of Market Gardening Describe Hi-Tech farming as a system of IPO
Esp: Processes of Hydroponics & Aeroponics

Describe the +ves & -ves of Hi-Tech farming Account for the imptce of agrotechnology parks in Spore Access the viability of Hi-Tech farming in Spore

Terms & Definitions

1. Traditional Market Gardening Intensive cash crop cultivation of vegetables, fruits or flowers mainly for the urban market

2. Hi-Tech Farming Intensive farming system which applies modern science & technology to produce high value & high quality farm produce

What does it mean by intensive agricultural farming? What does it mean by agrotechnology?

Traditional Market Gardening

-Characteristics1. Located close to/ edge urban centre Why?

High daily demand in urban settlement

Perishables - Deliver quickly to ensure freshness

2. Highly intensive - What? & Why?

High human inputs per unit area (fertilisers,) Highly productive (yields) Land near towns = expensive => need high economic returns

Von Thunen Model Agricultural Land Use

Changes in Farming in Spore

-Trad Mrkt Gardeng -> Hi-Tech FarmgYear
Farming Area (ha)

1980 8,000

1985 4,700

2002 807

2003 815

2005 1,465

Declining agri in Spore Why?

Land shortage
competition land uses: residential, industrial

Low cost of importing Pollution

Changes in Farming in Spore

-Trad Mrkt Gardeng -> Hi-Tech FarmgYear
Farming Area (ha)

1980 8,000

1985 4,700

2002 807

2003 815

2005 1,465

Emphasis on Hi-Tech farming Why?

Reduce dependence on external supply
Adaptability when SS falls Stability in $$

Need to be more self-reliant Agrotechnology: cost-effective mthds -> high quantity & quality yields

Year
Chicken ('000 no.s) Ducks ('000 no.s) Hen eggs (mil pcs) Fish (tonnes) Vegetables (tonnes) Aquarium Fish (mil pcs) Orchids (mil stalks) Ornamental plants (mil plts)

1997
1368

1998
1219

1999
955

2000
955

2001
1266

2002
1075

2003
1164

203
336

8.5
319

0
318

0
330

0
426

0
361

0
392

13049
16281

11516
17291

10526
18927

10483
19293

7785
17690

7795
16525

6369
16563

142 15

113 17

117 22

123 22

101 19

110 19

110 13

56

55

50

53

48

41

30

Hi-Tech Farming in Spore Comes Alive!!!

Group Work! 6 grps Steps: Research on the topics chosen (www.ava.gov.sg) Get more insight from farm visit Consolidate info & present to the class!

 Fun Fun Fun with Hi-Tech Farming in Spore!!!

1. Describe Hi-Tech farming as a system of IPO
Esp: Processes of Hydroponics & Aeroponics

2. Describe the +ves & -ves of Hi-Tech farming

3. Access the viability of Hi-Tech farming in Spore
Factors that encourage dev of farming Problems faced by farmers

 Fun Fun Fun with Hi-Tech Farming in Spore!!!

1. Describe the +ves & -ves of Hi-Tech farming
Control of plant growth: composition of nutrient solution High yields: more than 2x more than traditional market gardening Root zone environment regulated: yields are consistent Grown close together: land scarce Spore Mature faster: carefully controlled environment Automation: speeds up work +lbr shortage Less water in aeroponics: recycled Control of temp: sub-trop or temperate crop available throughout the year Local supply: fresher

 Fun Fun Fun with Hi-Tech Farming in Spore!!!

1. Describe the +ves & -ves of Hi-Tech farming
Set up and operation cost: expensive Necessary knowledge and technical skills: training, time and money Pest or disease: spread rapidly (same nutrient storage tank) Not all plants can be grown: insufficient knowledge of nutrient requirement of plants

 Fun Fun Fun with Hi-Tech Farming in Spore!!!

1. Access the viability of Hi-Tech farming in Spore
Factors that encourage dev of farming Problems faced by farmers