21/2/06 KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama)  -  "MARDI wants to revolutionise agriculture, make it a money-spinning sector for the country under the Ninth Malaysia Plan".

These are the words of the new Malaysian Agriculture Research Development Institute (MARDI) Director-General Dr Abd Shukor Abd Rahman as he spoke to Bernama during an interview at the agency's headquarters in Serdang near here.

Dr Abd Shukor is not a new face in Mardi. Despite taking office as director-general last Nov 13, his involvement with this agriculture development agency dated right back to his student days.

The MARDI-scholarship holder graduated from Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM), now known as Universiti Putra Malaysia, in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in agriculture science.

He pursued the master's in science (post-harvest physiology) programme at Florida University, United States in 1982 after serving four years at MARDI's Food Technology Centre.

With the master's degree, Dr Abd Shukor returned to the MARDI centre and later, to his alma mater for a doctorate course in the same field. Upon earning the PhD in 1993, he went back to serve MARDI until the appointment to his present post.

For Johor-born Dr Abd Shukor, the 28 years experience with MARDI facilitates his job in heading the organisation.

"As an insider, I know what MARDI needs, what it should do and what the government expects from the agency," he said.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Established on Oct 28, 1969, Mardi went full swing in 1971 with the aim of developing and commercialising new agriculture technologies. Its objective is to become a leading research and development (R&D) organisation in the food and tropical agriculture industries by 2015.

"We want world-class technology to transform the food and agriculture industries. We have never moved away from this objective," he said.

Apart from coming out with appropriate technologies, Dr Abdul Shukor said it is also crucial for the technology transfer to target groups and commercialising them.

Under the Eighth Malaysia Plan (8MP), MARDI developed 207 technologies, 7.5 per cent of them successfully commercialised.

"The benchmark set by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry is five per cent. At global level, it is around five per cent as not all of the new technologies can be applied by the target groups," he said.

MARDI is eyeing the 14 per cent mark Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

"This is the highest standard for us. Apart from developing technologies, we will also value-add researches conducted under the 8MP," he said.

Dr Abd Shukor said a technology developed should not only be technically-savvy but also economically competitive.

"We also provide economic pointers to complement working papers prepared by entrepreneurs applying for bank loans," he said.

MARDI'S SUCCESS IN 8MP

The Eksotika papaya and Josapine pineapple are among MARDI's research success under the 8MP, giving impetus to the local fruits' sector and boosting exports.

Eksotika papaya earns RM40 million a year from its export while the Josapine pineapple has penetrated markets in West Asian and European Union countries as well as Hong Kong.

MARDI had also came out with the "Omega-3", now commercialised by a private firm, apart from various breeds of paddy.

"Almost 90 per cent of paddy grown in Malaysia is developed by Mardi. In terms of Ringgit value, it is huge.

"Previously paddy production is some four tonnes a hectare, now it moves up to six tonnes a hectare. The extra two tonnes a hectare translates into about RM500 million a year in output," he said.

Among MARDI's prized paddy variety are the MR 219 and MR 220 breed. Planted in almost 90 per cent of the country's rice-production land, these varieties can produce up to 10 tonnes of paddy a hectare.

AIR-CONDITIONED CONTAINERS

The agency has also developed a technology to export fresh Josapine pineapple and Eksotika papaya via ships to West Asia and Hong Kong.

The fruits, stashed in containers of 10 degrees Celsius in temperature, can last for two weeks at sea and its freshness and quality are the same as fruits moved via air freight.

"Exporting through ships is much cheaper as they have more cargo space when compared to planes," said Dr Abd Shukor.

More feathers in MARDI's cap -- farm feed made from oil palm fronds, biofertilisers from chrysanthemums as well as biotechnology sensor that can detect pesticides in fresh vegetables within 30 minutes as compared to two days through chemical analysis.

There is also the international award winning coconut de-husking machine and various produce from fruits, rice, potato, fish, herbs and beef that found encouraging demand in the local market.

R&D EFFORT

Dr Abd Shukor said MARDI needs extra funding as the agency continues to develop new agriculture technologies under the 9MP.

"The Treasury has approved RM300 million for development and we are still waiting for the R&D grant from the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry," he said.

MARDI plans to improve its laboratories apart from procuring new equipment.

To overcome staff shortage, MARDI has offered contracts to researchers who have retired from service.

"We hire those who have retired as they can still contribute their expertise while waiting for the younger researchers to gain more experience," he said.

The agency also plans to hold collaboration with local and foreign universities to raise its expertise level in R&D.

MEETING MARKET NEEDS

This year MARDI will focus on product development and processing as market indicators point to high demand for value-added produce.

"Functional foods are crucial for health and we are moving towards technologies for these produces," he said, adding that halal food would not be left out.

Previously, MARDI had focused on herbal produce and now it is switching attention on developing new products accompanied by halal accreditation.

MARDI, under the 9MP, moves into the aromatherapy and fragrance sector and 10 herbs -- tongkat ali, kacip fatimah, limau purut, mas cotek, misai kucing, pegaga, halia, dukung anak, mengkudu and hempedu bumi have been identified for this purpose.

Others in the list are pest-resistant biotechnology fruits (papaya and pineapple), contaminants-in-food detector, microbe-utilised bioprocessed produces and nutraceutical as well as pharmaceutical products.

Mechanisation is not left out.

"We want to boost mechanisation in plantations by introducing cheap, easy to use and practical gears for farmers,"he said.

GUIDE FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Dr Abd Shukor said MARDI does not move away from assisting entrepreneurs through its foster and guidance programmes.

However participants of these programmes need to meet the prerequisites.

"When we take them in, they will be successful and when we let them go, they can still continue their business," he said.

Like any other business ventures, there is no short cut to success, he noted.

He said MARDI wants to change the mindset of Malays through application of new technologies capable of giving their industries high competitive edge.

"Previously they only produced enough for their family's consumption, but now we want them to earn from their agriculture produce, for themselves and the nation," said Dr Abd Shukor.

He admits that the paradigm shift would take time but expresses confidence that it can be done as many degree holders have ventured into agriculture.

"Malay farmers no longer comprises only the old as many of them have degrees and this facilitate technology transfer. We wish to see more Malay farmers with (tertiary) academic qualifications.

"Agriculture is on par with other fields, in line with the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister's (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) description that it is a business.

"If we can apply his words, then our efforts to make agriculture a rewarding career are not going to be difficult," said Dr Abd Shukor.

-- BERNAMA