STATUS DAN TREND PEMBANGUNAN WANITA SABAH
Laporan Banci Penduduk Tahun 2000 menunujukkan jumlah penduduk di Malaysia
ialah 22.2 juta dengan 51% penduduk lelaki dan 49% perempuan. Bagi negeri Sabah
jumlah penduduknya adalah 2.5 juta dengan bilangan perempuan seramai 1.2 juta atau
49% dari jumlah penduduk. Nisbah lelaki penduduk Malaysia terhadap wanita adalah
104:100
manakala
bagi
Sabah
nisbahnya
adalah
107:100
(http://www.statistics.gov.my). Kadar populasi wanita yang mencecah hampir 50%
daripada jumlah penduduk ini turut mempengaruhi perubahan dalam demografi
tenaga buruh, tahap pendidikan dan sosio-ekonomi negara.
Namun demikian, jumlah penduduk wanita tersebut tidak mencerminkan penglibatan
yang setara dengan kaum lelaki di dalam pembangunan negara. Secara umumnya
wanita masih tertinggal di belakang berbanding kaum lelaki dalam pelbagai bidang
seperti menjadi ahli dalam membuat keputusan di peringkat pengurusan, politik,
perniagaan, kepakaran dalam bidang-bidang strategik seperti bidang ekonomi,
kewangan, perubatan dan ICT. Kaum wanita secara umumnya masih tertumpu pada
bidang-bidang stereotaip seperti perguruan, pekeranian, kejururawatan dan aktiviti
perniagaan seperti persolekan, gerai/kedai makan dan pertanian secara kecil-kecilan.
Pemodenan dan kebangkitan wanita dalam pembangunan sememangnya diakui, walau
bagaimanapun, secara umumnya kepekaan terhadap kesetaraan gender masih menjadi
persoalan yang belum terjawab sepenuhnya. Oleh yang demikian dasar dan langkahlangkah yang lebih mesra-wanita harus dipertimbangkan dengan sewajarnya bagi
memastikan kaum wanita dapat berperanan sepenuhnya bersama kaum lelaki dalam
membangunkan negara.
Bertitik tolak daripada itu, Institut Kajian Pembangunan (Sabah) dengan kerjasama
Jabatan Hal Ehwal Wanita Sabah (JHEWA) telah menganjurkan bengkel mengenai
Status dan Trend Pembangunan Wanita Sabah di Kota Kinabalu, Sabah pada 8 Jun
2004. Objektif bengkel ini adalah untuk membincangkan isu dan cabaran kaum
wanita di bandar dan pingggir bandar; dan mendapatkan pandangan dan input awal
bagi Kajian Status dan Trend Pembangunan Wanita Sabah. Pembantu Menteri
Pembangunan Masyarakat dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna, Puan Jornah Mozihim telah
merasmikan bengkel tersebut.
Dalam ucaptama perasmian, Jornah menyatakan bahawa ramai wanita kini
memainkan pelbagai peranan secara serentak iaitu sebagai ibu atau sebagai pekerja,
ketua jabatan, pengurus rumah tangga dan sebagai penyumbang aktif kepada
pembangunan komuniti. Ini mengambarkan bahawa wanita mempunyai daya dan
tahap kemampuan pengurusan yang tinggi dan tetap berjaya dalam karier, rumah
tangga dan ahli masyarakat.
Beliau juga menyatakan bahawa selama ini pendekatan pembangunan belum secara
khusus mempertimbangkan manfaat pembangunan secara adil terhadap perempuan
dan laki-laki, sehingga hal tersebut turut menimbulkan pandangan mengenai
ketidaksetaraan dan ketidakadilan gender.
Tambah beliau, secara realitinya wanita masih kurang menikmati hasil jerih perih
yang dilakukan secara total. Berdasarkan statistik 2002 menunjukkan bahawa
peratusan penganggur wanita Sabah berpendidikan adalah 17.5% berbanding lelaki
pada kadar 8.2%. Kadar pengangguran yang tinggi di kalangan wanita berpendidikan
ini menggambarkan adanya kepincangan dan ini memerlukan perhatian pelbagai
pihak. Oleh itu usaha bersepadu perlu dilaksanakan khasnya bagi mengatasi masalah
pengangguran di kalangan wanita. Usaha seumpama ini diharapkan akan membantu
kaum wanita untuk memanfaatkan bakat dan kemahiran mereka. Kita juga dapati
bahawa daripada 1.1 juta orang pekerja di Sabah, 348,000 atau 30% adalah pekerja
wanita. Dari jumlah pekerja wanita tersebut, seramai 87,900 orang tertumpu dalam
bidang pertanian dan perikanan.
Beliau juga menyeru agar institusi-institusi dan persatuan-persatuan wanita dapat
menggerakkan golongan wanita berilmu agar menjadi ejen perubahan yang prihatin
dan berkesan. Beliau juga menyentuh tentang peranan wanita dalam membentuk
keluarga bahagia yang menitikberatkan nilai akhlak dan moral yang tinggi. Beliau
juga menegaskan agar wanita dapat menyusun agenda bagi memantapkan dan
memperkukuhkan peranan wanita dalam bidang politik, agama, sosial, ekonomi dan
kebudayaan.
Dengan kata lain wanita perlu diintegrasikan sebaiknya ke dalam arus pembangunan
perdana melalui pemantapan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi terkini. Apa yang
menjadi matlamat penting bagi menentukan kesaksamaan ini ialah perubahan minda
di semua peringkat, agar tidak meletakkan wanita sebagai golongan kedua atau
kurang berkemampuan. Wanita juga perlu bebas dari belenggu budaya mundur dan
lebih berani tampil ke hadapan.
Bengkel ini telah dihadiri oleh 50 orang peserta yang terdiri dari pegawai kerajaan,
persatuan-persatuan wanita, organisasi bukan kerajaan dan swasta. Peserta-peserta
bengkel telah dibahagikan kepada lima kumpulan untuk membincangkan dan
mengariskan isu dan rekomendasi mengikut tema perbincangan iaitu:
Kumpulan 1:
keputusan
Penglibatan wanita di peringkat pengurusan dan membuat
Isu dan masalah yang dibentangkan oleh kumpulan ini adalah seperti berikut:

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Kurang penglibatan wanita di peringkat pengurusan dan membuat keputusan;
Kadar pengangguran wanita berpendidikan yang agak tinggi;
Peratusan penjawat jawatan penting masih rendah;
Kekangan mobiliti (pelbagai peranan)
Stigma; dan
Diskriminasi.
Program-program dan strategi yang dicadangkan untuk menangani isu dan masalah
tersebut adalah seperti berikut:



Memperhebatkan program kesedaran perspektif gender;
Meneruskan program yang dikendali oleh MPWS;
Penyertaan dan komitmen penuh dari pelbagai pihak termasuk kaum lelaki,
golongan Perguruan, pemimpin masyarakat dan NGOs;





Menggerakkan NGO Wanita untuk berpadu tenaga dan usaha ke arah
merealisasikan kesemua deklarasi mengenai wanita
Mencadangkan pengwujudan Kementerian Hal Ehwal Wanita, Sabah;
Membentuk dan melahirkan golongan pelapis wanita untuk menjawat jawatan
tertinggi dalam semua sektor;
Mewujudkan kepimpinan kolektif wanita yang unggul, dinamik, disegani dan
berkaliber; dan
Menekankan paradigma ”Great leaders produce other leaders and not great
leaders produce massive followers”.
Kumpulan 2: Wanita dalam ekonomi, kerjaya dan keusahawanan
(i) Ekonomi
Isu dan masalah yang dibentangkan oleh kumpulan ini adalah seperti berikut:







Kaum wanita kurang berjaya berbanding lelaki
Halangan budaya: masih ada stigma dan kurang percaya terhadap kemampuan
wanita
Kurangnya jaringan (networking) di kalangan wanita
Wanita tidak digalakkan sebebas lelaki dalam banyak budaya
Pengiktirafan terhadap wanita masih kurang
Kurang semangat untuk berjaya, rendah diri dan kurang motivasi
Rekod atau data statistik tentang sumbangan wanita kepada ekonomi perlu
diperbaiki.
Antara program dan strategi yang dicadangkan adalah seperti berikut:


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

Program dan kursus motivasi
Pendidikan di peringakt awal dan mendidik anak perempuan sebaik anak
lelaki
Pendedahan kepada saluran komunikasi dengan meningkatkan jaringan
(network) dan memperbaiki penampilan
Data dan rekod mengenai sumbangan wanita perlu penelitian semula bagi
membantu memperbaiki program-program pembangunan wanita
Memberikan lebih banyak peluang dan galakan dalam pembangunan ekonomi
Mendedahkan wanita kepada pengetahuan umum yang baik.
(ii) Kerjaya
Isu dan masalah

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Kurang pengiktirafan yang sewajarnya terhadap kemampuan dan keupayaan
wanita
Kurang penyertaan dalam latihan kemahiran dan vokasional
Tiada pusat6 penjagaan kanak-kanak di tempat kerja
Tiada flexi-hour untuk wanita
Kecendurangan berhenti selepas kahwin

Tahap pendidikan yang renah di kalangan wanita luar bandar (menyumbang
masalah di bandar).
Program dan strategi
 Memperbanyakan program dan aktiviti kesedaran
 Menyediakan pusat penjagaan kanak-kanak di tempat kerja
 Wujudkan program flexi-hour di beberapa jabatan sebagai perintis
 Memperkukuhkan program-program pendidikan wanita
 Membantu dan menggalakan perniagaan melalui rumah.
(iii) Keusahawanan
Isu dan masalah
 Peluang
agak
terhad
bagi
wanita
terlibat
dalam
kegiatan
keusahawanan/korporat
 Penglibatan wanita dalam pernigaan/keusahawanan sukar bertahan
lama/berkembang
 Kurangnya kemahiran dalam berkomunikasi (Communication Skill) dan
kemahiran menjalin rangkaian (Networking Skill)
 Tidak ada sistem ”menteroship”
 Tiada perkhidmatan sokongan khusus untuk wanita.
Program dan strategi
 Membuka lebih banyak program keusahawanan untuk wanita dalam
menyalurkan peruntukan kepada organisasi-organisasi wanita/institusi yang
sesuai
 Program untuk mendidik atau melatih wanita bagi mempertingkatkan
kemahiran berkomunikasi dan menjalin rangkaian, di samping latihan-latihan
susulan
 Memberi akses kepada wanita untuk mendapat mentor dari wanita yang
berpengalaman dan kepakaran dalam bidang keusahawanan tertentu
 Mewujudkan Dewan Perniagaan Wanita.
Kumpulan 3: Wanita: Pendidikan dan latihan
Isu dan masalah
 Sikap ibu bapa dan kemahiran keibubapaan yang masih perlu dipertingkatkan
 Peluang pendidikan di bidang-bidang strategik masih perlu di ber perhatian
(kedoktoran, kaunselor keluarga, gerontologi, pakar sakit jiwa, pakar
kewangan)
 Galakan dan keutamaan pada kaum wanita untuk menceburkan diri dalam
bidang sains dan teknologi
 Keselamatan dan gangguan seksual yang menyumbang kepada keruntuhan
moral masyarakat
 Kurang kepakaran dan kefahaman dalam ICT
 Menyediakan program dan aktiviti pendidikan dan latihan untuk wanita yang
berumur 35 ke atas contoh; pesara, ibu tunggal yang berminat
 Memperhebatkan latihan dan kursus-kursus kemahiran keibubapaan.
Program dan strategi
 Memperbaiki dan memperkukuhkan peranan Jabatan Pendidikan/sekolah
dalam melahirkan anak-anak yang bermoral dan berakhlak
 Kerjasama kerajaan, NGO dan perseorangan dalam penubhan lebih banyak
pra-sekolah, pusat-pusat penjagaan/aktiviti/menunggu bagi anak-anak yang
bersekolah dan remaja bagi menghalang mereka dari kegiatan yang kurang
sihat
 Kursus, seminar, dan NGO serta promosi gaya hidup sihat melaui media
massa.
Kumpulan 4: Wanita dan masalah sosial
Isu dan masalah
 Perceraian
 Konsep keluarga besar (extended family) semakin kurang di kawasan bandar;
 Masalah penjagaan anak-anak kecil, anak yang masih bersekolah dan anak
remaja;
 Kecenderungan ibu-bapa menghantar anak-anak yang masih kecil ke kelas
tambahan;
 Sikap bersaing dengan jiran yang kurang sihat yang mementingkan
kebendaan;
 Bebanan sara hidup yang tinggi di bandar menyebabkan wujud masalah
kewangan;
 Masalah gangsterism, penagihan dadah, jenayah juvana, lepak, bohsia dan
bohjan di kalangan remaja; dan
 Pelacuran dan serangan seksual/keganasan.
Bagi menangani isu dan masalah-masalah ini dicadangkan seperti di bawah:
 Memperkukuhkan unit keluarga dengan menanamkan nilai-nilai agama dan
akhlak yang baik;
 Ibu-bapa terutamanya ibu-ibu perlu memainkan peranan penting dalam
menentukan kesihatan mental, fizikal dan spiritual ahli keluarga;
 Ibu-bapa harus lebih pro-aktif dalam memantau aktiviti anak-anak;
 Bahan-bahan dan siaran-siaran media massa yang mengandungi unsur-unsur
ganas dan seks harus ditapis sewajarnya sebelum disiarkan;
 Mewujudkan peluang pekerjaan yang sesuai untuk anak-anak remaja
perempuan supaya tidak terlibat dalam gejala sosial;
 Memperhebatkan program kesedaran dengan menanamkan nilai-nilai moral;
dan
 Memberikan kesedaran dan pengetahuan tentang penggunaan peralatan (kit)
anti-rogol.
Kumpulan 5: Wanita dan kesihatan
Isu dan masalah
 Tahap pengetahuan yang rendah tentang kesihatan reproduktif di kalangan
wanita
 Amalan gaya hidup yang tidak sihat
 Peningkatan bilangan wanita yang menghadapi gangguan emosi dan mental

Peningkatan amalan pengambilan ubat-ubatan dan kosmetik jalanan yang
tidak berdaftar dan tidak selamat.
Antara program dan strategi yang berkesan untuk menangani masalah-masalah ini
adalah seperti berikut:
 Program-program kesedaran tentang kepentingan penjagaan kesihatan wanita
 Kempen kepentingan kesedaran perancangan keluarga, memperluaskan
pemeriksaan saringan HIV secara percuma
 Meningkatkan kerjasama (Integrated approach) semua agensi yang berkaitan
dalam menjalankan aktiviti-aktiviti kesedaran kesihatan;
 Menggalakkan wanita-wanita yang berisiko menjalankan ujian saringan
kanser;
 Memperkukuhkan pendekatan pendidikan kesihatan masyarakat.
Lima orang moderator telah dilantik untuk mengetuai perbincangan setiap kumpulan
iaitu Datin Asnimar Sukardi, Majlis Penasihat Wanita Sabah, Puan Fatmah Wattie
Haji Abu Bakar, Sabah Muslim Women Lawyers Association (SALWA), Puan Hajah
Nabsia Hj. Yunus, Pengurus Kumpulan Pusat Perkembangan Kanak-Kanak Yayasan
Sabah, Puan Chenderamata Hj. Sinteh, Timbalan Yang DiPertua Persatuan Wanita
SESB, dan Dr. Maria Suleiman, Pegawai Kesihatan Kawasan Penampang.
Bengkel seumpama ini juga akan diadakan di Sandakan dan Tawau sebagai
kesinambungan Kajian Status dan Trend Pembangunan Wanita Sabah. – Mansalasah
Musa, Dyrina Sukirno, Baiyah Ag. Mahmon
SABAH HAS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR OPEN SEA FISH FARMING
Sabah is one of the best places in the world to undertake caged fish farming in open
sea, according to a spokesman for a Taiwan-based venture investment company.
Dr Chin-Kang Sha who is representing the Cheng Xin Technology Development
Corporation in Taipei, Taiwan said the pollution-free sea waters off the coast of Sabah
are ideal for fish farming.
Dr Sha said this at a meeting with members of the State Working Group on
Biotechnology Research, Development and Applications at the Institute for
Development Studies, IDS in Kota Kinabalu on 16 January 2004. He was in Sabah to
explore investment opportunities especially in the marine biotechnology sector.
Dr Sha said fish is an animal protein source that is of high quality. “There is a
worldwide sea food shortage of about 40 million tons a year and utilizing ocean to
produce food is an inevitable trend,” he said. “Aquaculture is the best solution to
overcome this problem,” he added.
He said his company has successfully carried out a trial project to rear cobia which
can grow up to a size of seven kilograms in a year using biotechnology to control
disease and to improve yield. He said the cobia faming was suitable in warm waters
such as those found in Sabah.
Dr Sha said his company is keen to collaborate with local partners to tap the marine
biotechnology sector through high technology transfer and capital investment.
He also said that his company was looking into the possibility of setting up a joint
venture in Sabah to produce Chitosan, a modified carbohydrate polymer derived from
shells of crustaceans such as crabs, prawns and shrimps. He said Chitosan can be
used in many medical applications and it also contains health promoting properties.
“The market value of medical grade Chitosan is estimated at US$2.5 billion a year,”
he said.
Dr Sha said a factory to manufacture Chitosan could be set up in Sabah as it has a
readily supply of the raw materials in the form of wastes from prawns and shrimps
processing.
Dr Sha who is also Professor of Natural Sciences, Chemistry Department of the
National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan also proposed undertaking joint programmes
with local research institutions to study marine plants, animals and micro-organisms.
He said Sabah is rich in natural resources from which new products could be
developed.
POTENTIAL UTILIZATION OF COMPOST AND EFFECTIVE MICROORGANISMS IN HERBAL CULTIVATION
The setting up of a working group on Biotechnology Research, Development and
Applications under the umbrella body of the Sabah Agro-Industrial Development
Steering Committee was deemed timely in looking at the potential application of
biotechnology to agricultural practices in Sabah. This is also in line with the
government’s Halatuju, which focuses on developing the agriculture, tourism and
manufacturing sectors as the backbone economy for Sabah. The Halatuju gives
emphasis to optimizing the vast biodiversity resources in the State especially in
developing the herbal industry using biotechnology. In this regard, the State
government has endorsed the Sabah Agro-Industrial Precinct (SAIP) as a strategic
infrastructural project that capitalizes on the biodiversity resources, biotechnology
applications and sustainable agricultural practices. Agronomical practices including
hydroponics, aeroponic and tissue culture that are being promoted by the government
have also brought about changes to the conventional farming techniques.
Since the Green Revolution started a few decades ago, there has been an indisputable
increase in agricultural output, which helps food production to keep pace with
population growth. However, the agriculture techniques refined and developed during
the Green Revolution, which include the extensive use of chemical fertilizers,
pesticides and herbicides, among others, posed destructive effects to the environment
and to human health. In this regard, the concept of ‘sustainable agriculture’ as
illustrated by Richard Earles offers innovative approaches and economically viable
opportunities for growers, labourers, consumers, policymakers and many others in an
array of farming systems. They include organic, natural, low-input, integrated,
alternative, regenerative, holistic, biodynamic, biointensive, and biological farming
systems all seek sustainability.
The utilization of biotechnology in agriculture especially in the development of herbal
industry is deemed appropriate. This is in view of increasing demand for herbalbased products world wide. Globally, the market for herbal medications was
estimated at US$14 billion in 1996, distributed in the following manner: Europe
(US$7 billion), Japan (US$2.4 billion), North America (US$1.6 billion) and the rest
of the world (US$0.3 billion). In 2000, the global herbal industry was estimated to be
worth about US$80 billion (RM304 billion). The World Bank projected that the
industry would be worth US$200 billion in the year 2008 and US$5 trillion in 2050.
In 2001, the Economist Intelligence Unit reported that international herbal medicine
sales were growing at 10% a year, while the global herbal industry was worth an
annual RM30-50 billion. Malaysia’s share of this market was estimated to be RM6
billion despite the country having a diversity of herbs. Herbs and medicinal plants are
mainly used a phyto-medicines, flavours, and fragrances, bio pesticides and
pharmaceuticals/nutraceuticals. Until today, medicinal plants species are still, to a
large extent, gathered and collected from the wild and relatively few genera are
cultivated on a commercial scale.
With the growing demand for herbal products worldwide, and the ever increasing
incidents of over harvesting from the wild, commercial cultivation of potentially high
value herbs could help to alleviate the problem.
Nevertheless, several factors have to be taken into consideration in herbal farming,
especially with regard to the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides
which should be kept to a minimum or avoided. This is to ensure that the planted
herbs and their end products will not pose unwanted risks to human health. In view of
this, the utilization of compost and effective micro-organisms, among others, to enrich
the soil nutrients which are essential to plant growth, is important.
The utilization of compost and effective micro-organisms in Sabah is still in its
infancy stage, although it is already gaining popularity and support among local
vegetable farmers. Early research and development work incorporating effective
micro-organisms in compost making, has indicated apparent improvement in soil
quality, soil health and the growth, yield and quality of crops. Governmental and
foreign institutions as well as individual advocates worldwide have long embarked on
this ecological –friendly technology, and their R&D findings and results have shown
its efficacy in increasing agricultural output while at the same time conserving the
environment.
Compost and effective micro-organisms (EM)
The Oxford dictionary defined ‘compost’ as a mixture of decayed plant matter and
manure added to soil to improve the growth of plants. Biologically, compost is a
product resulting from the controlled biological decomposition of organic material
that has been sanitized through the generation of heat and stabilized to the point that it
is beneficial to plant growth. Composing requires various micro-organisms, including
bacteria and fungi to break down organic matter into simpler substances. The
effectiveness of the composting process id dependent upon the environmental
conditions present within the composting system such as oxygen, temperature,
moisture, material disturbance, organic matter, and the size and activity of microbial
populations.
Compost contains primary nutrients as well as trace minerals, humus and humic acids,
in a slow release form. It is a dark, friable, odourless product very similar to the
organic matter found in the soil. Compost improves soil porosity, drainage, aeration,
moisture holding capacity and reduces compaction. Compost can retain up to ten
times its weight in water. In addition, compost helps buffer souls against extreme
chemical imbalance; aids in unlocking soil minerals; releases nutrients over a wide
time window; acts as a buffer against the absorption of chemicals and heavy metals,
promotes the development of healthy root zone; suppresses diseases associated with
certain fungi; and helps plant tolerate drought conditions. In other words, compost
has the unique ability to improve the chemical, physical and biological characteristics
of soils or growing media.
Composting with effective micro-organisms (EM) is very useful and has many
advantages over regular composting. It decreases composting time by 50%, reduces
the unpleasant odours of composting, and accelerates the rate of composting by
supplying beneficial micro-organisms (EM Tech.). It is a technology developed in the
1970’s by Professor Teruo Higa at the Univesity of Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. Prof.
Teruo Higa defined EM as a fermented mixed culture of beneficial micro organism
which includes Lactic acid bacteria, phototropic bacteria and yeast. These microorganisms exist in nature and are utilized for food processing and probiotic for
livestock. The culture of EM contains these species, in an acidic medium. This
solution does not contain any genetically modified micro-organisms. This technology
applies effective micro-organisms that have over eighty different microbial, both
beneficial and naturally occurring. A mixture of groups of micro-organism has a
reviving action on humans, animals, plants, and the natural environment.
EM can significantly enhance the beneficial effects of soil and crop management
practices, especially in organic farming systems. The solution will help the
decomposition process of organic materials through fermentation, and produce
beneficial organic acids, bioactive substances and vitamins. A key ingredient in this
process is organic matter, which is supplied by recycling crop residues, green manures
and animal manure. In addition this process leads to increased humus in the soil.
Research has shown that the inoculation of EM culture to the soil or plant ecosystem
can improve soil quality, soil health and the growth, yield and quality of crops. EM
technology is safe, effective, environmentally friendly, cost effective through waste
recycling developed in the fields and accessible to farmers.
Use of compost
Compost is a valuable soil amendment that improves many soil properties, such as
porosity, structural and thermal stability, water retention, resistance to wind and water
erosion, and tillage. Compost also decreases soil crusting, regulates storage and
release of nutrients, enhances the development of beneficial micro-organisms, builds
up plants resistance to parasites and disease, and promotes faster root development.
Plants and crops treated properly with compost may produce higher yields and have
less weed growth.
Because of these beneficial characteristics, five major market segments for compost
have been identified:
 Agriculture (for food and non-food crops and herbal plants).
 Landscapers (for industrial and commercial properties; golf courses,
cemeteries, and athletic fields; landfill covers; and damaged soils).
 Nurseries (for plant and forest seedling crops and reforestation projects).
 Public agencies (for highway median strips, parks, recreational areas, and
other public property).
 Residents (for home landscaping and gardening).
 Remediation of contaminated sites (brown fields, mine spoils, etc).
Compost demand and promotion
The market demand for compost is growing. Supermarkets, restaurants, and schools
produce 16 million tons of commercial organic waste that may be composted. Source
separated food scrap compost is generally higher in nutrient value and lower in
contamination than most other types of compost, thus making it more valuable in the
market.
The agriculture industry is the largest potential market for compost. To increase its
use, the compose must be made available at the appropriate time of the year, be
consistent in composition and nutrient content, be low in level of potentially toxic
substances, be offered at a low cost, and be accepted by farmers. Landscapers use
large amounts of soil amendments and are therefore potentially large users of
compost.
Organic farming practices such as the use of paddy straw compost in and the
Diagnosis and Recommended Integrated System (DRIS) are slowly being practiced
by producers.
New forms of organic farming known today is Malaysia are called nature farms,
ecofarms, permaculture, kyusei nature farms, biodynamic farms and Yoko farms.
Though all systems practice some form of organic food production, the systems need
to be coordinated to ensure (i) organic farming as a form of agriculture that maintains
the environment through sustainable food production; and (ii) sufficient safe and
healthy food is produced for the people.
Composting at the IDS demo-plot project in Papar
The UNDP/GEF-IDS Demo-Plot Project in Kimanis, Papar has been using compost
as a bio-fertiliser. The project is a joint-venture effort involving IDS (Sabah) and
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Malaysia and Global Environment
Facility (GEF). In February 2003, a memorandum of agreement between the parties
was sealed for the implementation of the project entitled Promoting Demonstrational
Plots of Medicinal Plants and Herbs Biodiversity and Their Related Traditional
Knowledge.
The objective of the project is to design, test and maintain demonstrational plots of
medicinal plants collection using traditional methods and knowledge of the local
communities and research institutions. The demo plot, covering five acres, is located
at Km. 1.8, Kelatuan-Pemadam Road, off Mile 30, Papar-Beaufort Highway. It is
part of the Sabah Agro-industrial Precinct (SAIP) project.
The demo plot is used to prepare a test field for commercial domestication of selected
herbs from the state’s natural biodiversity resources for the use of the herbal
factory/industry, besides providing a series of hands-on training programmes to
disseminate knowledge to local communities about the best method for designing,
preparing test field/showcase on selected herbs for development and commercial
propagation. Other activities include documenting traditional knowledge of plants
and their usage in primary health care.
The demo plot has so far successfully domesticated about 200 indigenous herbal
species for commercial propagation. The ocimum sanctum or kemangi is one of the
species that thrives well under the harsh condition and compost material is used as its
bio-fertiliser.
Apart from the demo plot, other groups involved in promoting the use of compost
include the Bornean Biodiversity and Ecosystems Conservation (BBEC), the Centre
for Environment, Technology and Development Malaysia (CETDEM), the PACOS
TRUST (PACOS), the Sabah Recycle Net, the Kundasang Green Project and the
Yoko Farm.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that composting contributes to a greener environment apart from the
economic benefit that it derives Hamisah Hamid in an article to the Business Times
(04/12/2002), report that Asia Green Sdn Bhd, a palm oil company in West Malaysia
had been using the composting method to solve the waste problem from the
plantation. This had created a new business for the company that gave returns on
investment in less than three years through cost-savings and higher productivity.
Some countries in the world also practice composting or organic waste as a potential
solution to the management of animal carcasses and food processing wastes. It is also
a cost-effective alternative landfilling.
Individuals could learn to make compost as a source of income. It can be produced
from biodegradable solid waste, bagged and sold to the nursery and landscaping
industries and to commercial flower growers. For example, USM’s recycling project
sold compost at RM4 per kg (Vinesh, Derrick, 13/01/2004, The Star). In agriculture,
compost is used as a fertilizer to improve the quality of crops or plants as well as
maintaining the soil structure. Practised consistently, composting helps reduce
organic waste and garbage substantially.
Composting is easy to do and is inexpensive. The ‘ingredients’ needed are a suitable
location, a compost bin and wastage from one’s own backyard. The ‘recipe’ for great
compost consists of two basic things: green stuff (30-50%) and brown stuff (5070%). The brown stuff may consist of dried leaves, hay or any dry matte. A mower
or shredder may be used to reduce the particle size as smaller particles have more
surface area and this accelerates the rate of composting. The green stuff may consist
of grass clippings vegetable scraps, weeds and manure. Both green and brown stuff
should be mixed completely or be formed in layers. Too much of green materials can
cause a loss in volume and air, and putrefy. The green materials contain high
amounts of nitrogen which helps micro-organisms work properly. Besides nitrogen,
micro-organisms also need plenty of carbon which is found in the brown stuff. Small
scraps of newspaper and dired animal droppings may be added to the compost.
However, materials such as meat scraps, bones, dairy products and oily foods are to
be avoided as they attract rodents and also cause the compost to stink.
Water is also needed to provide adequate moisture to the compost pile. Leaves are
sprayed with water to make them wet.
The compost pile may need to be covered during rainy periods to avoid water
clogging and loss of air. The mixture is then left to mature for about two months.
Once in every two weeks the compost has to be turned over to allow it to degrade
evenly. The temperature during the composting process should be around 60-70
degree Celsius. So, why wait, do your composting today!
Notes
1.
2004. Vinesh, Derrick.
USM’s ‘tiger worm’ project.
<http://www.usm.net.my/modules/news/article.php?storyid=125>.
2.
2003.
Herbal Remedies – Global Market (July Report description)
<http://www.researchand markets.com.>
The Star
3.
2002. Greater Emphasis on Biotechnology under RMK8 – A Boost for the
Herbal Industry. <httl://www.might.org.my>.
4.
2002. Hamid H. Kulim to invest RM22m in palm oil waste management
system. Business Times <http://www.mpopc.org.my/newsdec2002.htm>.
5.
2002. Greater Emphasis on Biotechnology under RMK8 – A Boost for the
Herbal
Industry
<http://www.might.org.my/index.php?ch=4&pg=24&ac=115&tpt id=12>.
6.
2002. Earles, Richard. Sustainable Agriculture: An Introduction. ATTRANational
Sustainable
Agriculture
Information
Service,
USA.
<http://www.attra.ncat.org/attrapub/PDF/sustagintro/pdf>.
7.
1997. Feenstra, Gail et al., What is Sustainable Agriculture ? UC Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education Program, University of California, Davis,
CA, USA. <http://www. sarep.ucdavis.edu/>.
8.
1996. Cochran and Carney. Basic principles of composting. Environmental
Education. Louisiana State University.
9.
1995. Hornby A.S. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of current English.
Oxford University Press, Walton Street, Oxford Ox2 6DP.
10. 1994. Higa T. and Parr J. F. Beneficial and effective microorganism for a
sustainable agriculture and environment. International nature Farming Research
Centre, Atami, Japan.
11. 1991. Higa T. Effective microorganism: A biotechnology for mankind. In:
Proceedings of the First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming.
Ed. J.F. Parr et al., USDA, Washington, USA, 20-22.
12. 1991. Higa T. and Wididana G.N. The concept and theories of effective micro
organisms, pp. 118-24. In Parr, S.B Hornik, and C.E. Whitman (ed.).
Proceedings of the First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., USA.