Penglibatan Perempuan Di Peringkat Pengurusan Dan Menciptakan Keputusan

Isu dan persoalan yang dibentangkan oleh kumpulan ini adalah seperti berikut:

·         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-acara dan seni manajemen yang dicadangkan untuk menangani info dan problem tersebut yakni seperti berikut:

Kumpulan 2:  Wanita dalam ekonomi, kerjaya dan keusahawanan

(i)     Ekonomi

Isu dan masalah yang dibentangkan oleh kumpulan ini yaitu seperti berikut:

Antara program dan seni manajemen yang dicadangkan adalah mirip berikut:

(ii)   Kerjaya

Isu dan persoalan

Program dan taktik

(iii) Keusahawanan

Isu dan dilema

Program dan seni manajemen

Kumpulan 3:   Wanita:  Pendidikan dan latihan

Isu dan masalah

Program dan taktik

Kumpulan 4:  Wanita dan problem sosial

Isu dan problem

Bagi menanggulangi gosip dan persoalan-problem ini dicadangkan seperti di bawah:

Kumpulan 5:  Wanita dan kesihatan

Isu dan duduk perkara

Antara program dan strategi yang berkesan untuk menanggulangi persoalan-duduk perkara ini adalah seperti berikut:

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 demam isu,” 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 MICRO-ORGANISMS 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 herbal-based 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 masalah.

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 perorangan 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 micro-organisms 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 pelatihan 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 (50-70%).  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