LEDANG: ONLY five per cent of the 5,000 farmers in the Ledang district are using effective micro-organism (EM) to increase their yield and prevent the spread of diseases.
This is despite the fact that this environmentally friendly farming technology has been introduced to all farmers since three years ago.
District agriculture officer Abdullah Rashidi said only 250 livestock breeders and farmers were using the technology although Johor is the first state to introduce it.
He said the Department of Agriculture had been tasked to provide two factories in each state constituency to produce EM yet most farmers prefer to use fertilisers and pesticides.
"Among the reasons why farmers do not use EM are because they do not know how to shift from traditional farming methods to the use of EM," said Abdullah.
"EM is a modern farming method although it has a longer history in western countries. They only use EM if it is given free of charge," he said after visiting a livestock farm and an EM factory at Felcra Kundang in Ledang recently. Also present was department director Adnan Mat Kassim.
He said EM has good bacteria which is used to fertilise the soil as well as kill bad bacteria which is detrimental to crops.
"It will make your crops more resistant to disease, and neutralise acidity in the soil. If left unchecked, these factors will lead to poor yield or death.
"The use of EM to spray on the crops will activate good bacteria to act against bad bacteria for at least 24 hours.
"In livestock farming, EM could be used as a drink for goats, cows, chicken, ducks and rabbits. It could also be used to cleanse their bodies," he said.
This is despite the fact that this environmentally friendly farming technology has been introduced to all farmers since three years ago.
District agriculture officer Abdullah Rashidi said only 250 livestock breeders and farmers were using the technology although Johor is the first state to introduce it.
He said the Department of Agriculture had been tasked to provide two factories in each state constituency to produce EM yet most farmers prefer to use fertilisers and pesticides.
"Among the reasons why farmers do not use EM are because they do not know how to shift from traditional farming methods to the use of EM," said Abdullah.
"EM is a modern farming method although it has a longer history in western countries. They only use EM if it is given free of charge," he said after visiting a livestock farm and an EM factory at Felcra Kundang in Ledang recently. Also present was department director Adnan Mat Kassim.
He said EM has good bacteria which is used to fertilise the soil as well as kill bad bacteria which is detrimental to crops.
"It will make your crops more resistant to disease, and neutralise acidity in the soil. If left unchecked, these factors will lead to poor yield or death.
"The use of EM to spray on the crops will activate good bacteria to act against bad bacteria for at least 24 hours.
"In livestock farming, EM could be used as a drink for goats, cows, chicken, ducks and rabbits. It could also be used to cleanse their bodies," he said.
SOURCE: NST STREETS JOHOR, SEPT 04, 2012
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