KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) will be collaborating with a local fertiliser supplier in an effort to strengthen eco-farm agriculture as an educational platform.
Its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansur said the initiative would benefit all stakeholders, especially students and agri-entrepreneurs.
He said the effort in collaboration with Yun Fung Sang Group Sdn Bhd would encourage more locals to get involved in agriculture and create avenues for research activities in oil palm and other fields.
“Agricultural education is one of the most important aspects for the continued growth of Malaysia’s agricultural sector as it leverages technology and innovation to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the downstream oil palm sector,” he said in a statement.
A signing of the research agreement (regenerative agriculture and biodiversity) between UMS and the oil palm industry through Yun Fung Sang Group was held recently at the UMS campus here. Both parties have also agreed to cooperate in establishing the Chair of Regenerative Agriculture and Biodiversity.
“This chair is important to strengthen the industry, especially in the aspect of improving the health of agricultural land and conservation of agrobiodiversity.
“The fertiliser that is produced later will be more economical and environmentally friendly, while having a high impact in increasing the production of sustainable agricultural crops including oil palm,” he said.
Yun Fung Sang Group has agreed to support UMS eco-farm project, which involves studying the application of additional trace elements to soil to improve oil palm yield, soil health and soil fauna diversity in a 12ha oil palm plantation in Gum-Gum, Batu 16, Sandakan.
The project was implemented last year and involves a contribution over a five-year period from Yun Fung Sang Group and the participation of its subsidiaries – Baja Harapan Group Sdn Bhd, Kang Ke Palm Sdn Bhd and Agri Business Consultancy Sdn Bhd.
Yun Fung Sang director Steve Lee said he would work to strengthen the agricultural industry to achieve the policy goals of the state government’s initiative to make Sabah a global leader in the sustainable palm oil industry.
“We hope through this research, the competitiveness can be further strengthened, and a system of cooperation between academia and industry can contribute to the development of the oil palm nutrient management industry.”
