FPA200 REPORT: FIELDWORK III
WEEKLY REPORT | |
DATE | 14 June 2024 |
WEEK | 11 |
PLACE | Farm Management Unit, UiTM Melaka Kampus Jasin. MELIPONINI PLOT, LADANG ANGKAT. |
DETAILS INFORMATION | |
INTRODUCTION | For week 11, we discussed pesticides in paddy fields with the Sekretariat Mahasiswa Fakulti (SMF). Pesticide application in Malaysian paddy fields is crucial for combating pests like rice stem borers and diseases such as blast and sheath blight, which pose significant threats to rice crops. Farmers use carefully selected pesticides and employ Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to minimize environmental impact while ensuring effective pest control and sustainable agricultural practices. |
OBJECTIVE(S) | Exposing university students to the latest news or updates in their industry helps them stay up to date on advancements, trends, and developments in their field of study. This allows them to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications, improving their comprehension and readiness for future careers. |
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT |
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NATURE OF WORK DONE | |
TIME | ACTIVITY |
6.30 am- 9.30 am |
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9.30 am- 10.00 am | Break |
10.00 am- 11.00 am |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | |
Clearing land and harvesting oil palm involves careful steps to ensure good quality and quantity. To know when the palm fruits are ready, look for red or orange color on top and seeds dropping to the ground. It's important to gather fallen fruit promptly to prevent problems like Variable Oil Palm Syndrome. Tools like tall sickles and low hoes are used for harvesting and planting. Harvesting starts in the third year after removing young flowers and fruits to help the tree grow strong before focusing on fruit. Beetles called Elaeidobius kamerunicus help pollinate the palm trees. Managing the canopy means not cutting branches too much to keep a dense cover with 48 leaves, as cutting too much can reduce the number of female flowers. Pruning only happens during harvesting or to remove dead leaves to prevent diseases. Some oil palms are crossbred to improve their qualities. Workers wear supportive clothes for their backs. They use special wheelbarrows with chain-driven machines to collect fruit efficiently. It's crucial to bring the harvested fruit to the factory within 24 hours to avoid spoilage. Fruits are checked in bins, and each cutter has a number to track their work. |