Plantation Agriculture

1. 7.5 Plantation Agriculture7.5 Plantation Agriculture
1.Characteristics & Historical Overview
2.Inputs/Processes/Output
3.Case study: Oil Palm Malaysia
Pg 54

2. Plantation Agriculture
Can we classify rice as a plantation crop?
No.
Although it has become a commercial enterprise
•most of the farmers are still subsistence in nature
•Size of the farms are small
• farmers sell the surplus to the middleman
•who will then transport them to the mill for processing,
packing and exporting.
•However, the size of a plantation is at least 40 hectares.
•Cash crops are grown instead of staples.

3. Where is Plantation Agriculture Where is Plantation Agriculture
Practised in Asia?Practised in Asia?
•Mainly in Peninsular Malaysia
•Islands of Sumatra and Java in Indonesia
•Philippines
Why?Why?

4. Historical OverviewHistorical Overview
•Colonial period (18
th
& 19
th
centuries)
•British: rubber plantations in M’sia
•Dutch: coffee, sugar & spices in Indonesia

4.Climate
•Hot & wet climate favoured perennial
cultivation of sugar cane & rubber

6.Demand
•Great demand in Europe & local industries

5. Changing Character of Changing Character of
Plantation AgriculturePlantation Agriculture
1.Used to be foreign-owned
•now largely owned by government or private
companies
3.Govt encouraging setting up of plantations
•subsidise capital investments of subsistence
farmers who switch to plantation agriculture
•Eg. Land resettlement schemes by FELDA
•Federal Land Development Authority

6. Characteristics of Plantation Characteristics of Plantation
•Physical Factors
•Land Size
•Relief
•Climate
•Soil
Refer to activity
book pp 37-38!
2. Human Factors
• Labour type
• Machines/Tools
• Capital
• Fertilisers
INPUTS
OUTPUTS

7. What is Plantation Agriculture?
•It is a type of commercial farming
where one particular crop is grown on
a large scale and sold for cash and
export.
•Rubber, oil palm, coconut, pineapple,
banana, tea, coffee and sugar cane

8. Case Study: Case Study:
Plantation AgriculturePlantation Agriculture
Oil Palm Plantations in MalaysiaOil Palm Plantations in Malaysia

9. Case Study: Oil Palm Plantation Case Study: Oil Palm Plantation
Peninsular M’siaPeninsular M’sia
•Describe & explain the distribution of oil palm
plantations in Msia
•Importance of palm oil industry to M’sia & the
world
•Limitations & problems faced by oil palm
plantations

10. Oil Palm Plantations in M’siaOil Palm Plantations in M’sia
-Introduction--Introduction-
Did you know?
•M’sia is world’s largest
producer & exporter of
palm oil since 1971
•Oil palm is M’sia’s
main cash crop

11. Oil Palm Plantations in M’siaOil Palm Plantations in M’sia
-Distribution--Distribution-

12. Oil Palm Plantations in M’siaOil Palm Plantations in M’sia
-Distribution--Distribution-
•Mostly in 4 states:
Johor
–Both sides of the main road & railway line
Selangor & Perak
- Coastal lowlands
Pahang
- Jengka Triangle (land development scheme for
smallholders)

13. Oil Palm Plantations in M’siaOil Palm Plantations in M’sia
-Factors influencing distribution--Factors influencing distribution-
1.Physical conditions
•Annual r/f: at least 1,500mm + evenly distributed
•Temp : 24-32°C
•Relief : flat/ undulating (gently sloping)
•Soil : well-drained
7.Other requirements
•Labour : abundant cheap supply
•Transport: efficient network within estate linking
mills to refineries

14. CHARACTERISTICS
• A single crop is grown over a large area
• planted in neat rows with well-developed network of
transportation and communication, connecting plantation
areas, processing industries and markets together
• Production is mainly for the market and not for the
farmers’ self-consumption
• Involves modern inputs like chemical fertilisers, insecticides
and pesticides
• Modern machinery is needed
• Labour-intensive

15. Oil Palm Plantations in M’siaOil Palm Plantations in M’sia
-Reasons for importance--Reasons for importance-
1.Generating employment
-Labour intensive, job opportunities in the field
-From labourers, technicians and professionals involved in
the R & D .
5.Generate high earnings to Malaysia
Provide export revenue
8.Supports local industries
-Provide raw materials in local industries
-Encourage development of local cosmetics, detergent, food
and cooking oil industries

16. -Palm oil is an edible plant oil
-Palm oil is naturally reddish because it contains a high
amount of beta-carotene (though boiling it destroys the
carotenoids and renders the oil colourless).
-Palm oil is one of the few vegetable oils relatively high in
saturated fats.
-The oil is widely used as a cooking oil, as an ingredient
in margarine, and is a component of many processed
foods.
-Other than cooking oil, oil palm can be used as soaps,
washing powders and personal care products to treat
wounds.

17. -In 2004, Malaysia produced 14 million tons of palm
oil
-more than 38,000 square kilometres of land
-The Malaysian Sime Darby conglomerate is its
largest plantation operator, with 524,626 hectares of
oil palms
-Malaysia opened its first biodiesel plant in the state
of Pahang

18. -It produces two types of oil - palm oil from the flesh of the
fruit, and palm kernel oil from the seed or kernel.
-For every 10 tonnes of palm oil, about 1 tonne of palm
kemel oil is also obtained.

19. ADVANTAGES
• More job opportunities for the people
• Source of income for the country
• Wider variety of food
• Effective use of vast land

20. DISADVANTAGES
• Local people may be exploited as cheap labour, leading
to slavery
• Growth of a single crop makes plantations very prone to
diseases, poor weather and the fluctuation in world
market prices
• Fertile soil for crops exported, rather than for self-
consumption

21. Oil Palm Plantations in M’siaOil Palm Plantations in M’sia
-Challenges--Challenges-
1.Shortage of labour
-Diff to recruit labour due to stiff competition from other
economic sectors
-Crucial to maintaining + raising crop production because
process is labourr dependent
-Lead to increasing production cost
6.Raising production cost
-Shortage of labour has caused production to fluctuate
-heavy application of fertilisers: poor tropical soil +
monoculture

22. Oil Palm Plantations in M’siaOil Palm Plantations in M’sia
-Challenges--Challenges-
1.Risk of disease/ pest attack
-Monoculture
4.Fluctuating prices
-Dependent on demand from user countries
-Heavy loses when price plunges
8.Competition from oil substitutes
-Soya bean oil, sunflower seed oil
-Affects earnings

23. Oil Palm Plantations in M’siaOil Palm Plantations in M’sia
-Measures to counter Problems--Measures to counter Problems-
1.Mechanisation of field operations
-Mechanising field operations to cut down heavy dependence
on labour
-Aircraft to spray fertilisers
-Employ foreign labour
6.Other forms of tech to lower production cost
-To remain competitive
-R & D to improve efficiency of processes
-Produce new & value added products

24. Oil Palm Plantations in M’siaOil Palm Plantations in M’sia
-Measures to counter Problems--Measures to counter Problems-
1.Foreign labour
-Solve labour shortage problem
5.Enlarging present market
-Eg. South America to enhance marketability
-Trade fairs, publications,…

25. PROBLEMS FACED
• Technology advances, reducing the need of plantation
agriculture
• HYV (High-yield varieties) Short growth periods
• Shortage of workers
• Deforestation
• Destroy natural habitats

26. RESOURCES
IMAGES:
http://images.google.com.sg/imghp?hl=en
CONTEXT:
http://library.thinkquest.org/26634/forest/farming/plantation.htm
http://www.alfredhartemink.nl/plantations.htm
http://www.slideshare.net/
http://wiki.answers.com/

27. Recap: Oil Palm Plantation Recap: Oil Palm Plantation
Peninsular M’siaPeninsular M’sia
•Describe & explain the distribution of oil palm
plantations in Msia
•Importance of palm oil industry to M’sia & the
world
•Limitations & problems faced by oil palm
plantations

28. Oil Palm Plantations in M’siaOil Palm Plantations in M’sia
-Processes- -Processes- Phase 1: Phase 1: Cultivation
i.Pre-nursery stage
- Good palm seeds & soaked for
7 days
- Sown in polythene bags
containing fertile soil
- then kept in germinators for 2
months at 40°C

vii.Nursery stage
- Transplanted to nursery &
maintained for 1 yr
i.Main field
-Transplanted to main field during
early part of rainy season
-Cover crops planted bet rows of
oil palm trees
-Fertilisers, fungicides &
pesticides applied
vi.Harvesting
-3 yrs after field planting
-Harvested using sharp knife tied
to poles every wk
-Fruits collected manually
Txtbk pg 131-132

29. Oil Palm Plantations in M’siaOil Palm Plantations in M’sia
-Processes- -Processes- Phase 2: Phase 2: Processing
i.Transport
- Harvested taken to the mills
(within estate) quickly to min
accumulation of fatty acid
- Processed on the same day

v.Sterilization
- Sent to sterilisers to steam for
90 min at 1,400°C
viii.Stripping
- Sent to rotary drum stripper
- Stripped & separated from
stalk by lifting & dropping
- Collected on conveyor belt
leading to digester
- Digestion
-Mesocarp separated from kernel
& turned into digested mash
under steam heated condition
iv.Oil extraction &
Purification
-Mash sent to hydraulic press
where oil is extracted
-Crude oil pumped into
clarification tank at 900°C
-Impurities sink, purer oil skimmed
off the top
-Passed thru high speed
centrifuge & vacuum dryer
-Stored
Txtbk pg 131-132

30. RESOURCES
IMAGES:
http://images.google.com.sg/imghp?hl=en
CONTEXT:
http://library.thinkquest.org/26634/forest/farming/plantation.htm
http://www.alfredhartemink.nl/plantations.htm
http://www.slideshare.net/
http://wiki.answers.com/

31. Hi-Tech FarmingHi-Tech Farming
1.Market Gardening
2.Case study: S’pore

32. Did you know?!Did you know?!
Where do we get our
supply of food and
vegetables, fruits,
flowers?
•Johor, Cameron Highlands, Australia, China,
Indonesia, Thailand…
•Singapore!

34. Hi-Tech FarmingHi-Tech Farming
-Learning Outcomes--Learning Outcomes-
•Define & Describe the CharacteristicsCharacteristics of Market Market
GardeningGardening
Describe Hi-Tech farming as a system of IIPPOO
–Esp: Processes of Hydroponics & Aeroponics
Describe the +ves+ves & -ves-ves of Hi-Tech farming
•Account for the imptceimptce of agrotechnology parks in
S’pore
Access the viabilityviability of Hi-Tech farming in S’pore

35. Terms & DefinitionsTerms & Definitions
1.Traditional Market Gardening
Intensive cash crop cultivation of vegetables,
fruits or flowers mainly for the urban market
5.Hi-Tech Farming
Intensive farming system which applies modern
science & technology to produce high value &
high quality farm produce

36. What does it mean
by intensiveintensive
agricultural farming?
What does it mean
by agrotechnologyagrotechnology?

37. Traditional Market GardeningTraditional Market Gardening
-Characteristics--Characteristics-
•Located close to/ edge urban centre – Why?
•High daily demand in urban settlement
•Perishables - Deliver quickly to ensure freshness
•Highly intensive - What? & Why?
•High human inputs per unit area (fertilisers,…)
•Highly productive (yields)
•Land near towns = expensive
=> need high economic returns

38. Von Thunen Model Von Thunen Model
Agricultural Land UseAgricultural Land Use

39. Changes in Farming in S’poreChanges in Farming in S’pore
-Trad Mrkt Gardeng -> Hi-Tech Farmg--Trad Mrkt Gardeng -> Hi-Tech Farmg-
Declining agri in S’pore – Why?
•Land shortage
–competition land uses: residential, industrial…
•Low cost of importing
•Pollution
815
2003
1,4658074,7008,000
Farming
Area (ha)
2005200219851980Year

40. Changes in Farming in S’poreChanges in Farming in S’pore
-Trad Mrkt Gardeng -> Hi-Tech Farmg--Trad Mrkt Gardeng -> Hi-Tech Farmg-
Emphasis on Hi-Tech farming – Why?
•Reduce dependence on external supply
–Adaptability when SS falls
–Stability in $$
•Need to be more self-reliant
•Agrotechnology: cost-effective mthds -> high
quantity & quality yields
815
2003
1,4658074,7008,000
Farming
Area (ha)
2005200219851980Year

41. 3041485350 55 56
Ornamental
plants
(mil plts)
13191922 22 1715
Orchids
(mil stalks)
110110101123 117113142
Aquarium Fish
(mil pcs)
16563165251769019293 18927 1729116281
Vegetables
(tonnes)
63697795778510483 105261151613049
Fish
(tonnes)
392361426330 318 319336
Hen eggs
(mil pcs)
0000 0 8.5203
Ducks
('000 no.s)
116410751266955 955 12191368
Chicken
('000 no.s)
2003200220012000 1999 19981997Year

42. Hi-Tech Farming in S’poreHi-Tech Farming in S’pore
Comes Alive!!! Comes Alive!!!
Group Work!Group Work!
•6 grps
Steps:Steps:
•Research on the topics chosen (www.ava.gov.sg)
•Get more insight from farm visit
•Consolidate info & present to the class!

43.  Fun Fun FunFun Fun Fun 
with Hi-Tech Farming in S’pore!!!with Hi-Tech Farming in S’pore!!!
Describe Hi-Tech farming as a system of IIPPOO
–Esp: Processes of Hydroponics & Aeroponics
Describe the +ves+ves & -ves-ves of Hi-Tech farming
Access the viabilityviability of Hi-Tech farming in S’pore
-Factors that encourage dev of farming
-Problems faced by farmers

44.  Fun Fun FunFun Fun Fun 
with Hi-Tech Farming in S’pore!!!with Hi-Tech Farming in S’pore!!!
Describe the +ves+ves & -ves-ves of Hi-Tech farming
»Control of plant growth: composition of nutrient solution
»High yields: more than 2x more than traditional market gardening
»Root zone environment regulated: yields are consistent
»Grown close together: land scarce S’pore
»Mature faster: carefully controlled environment
»Automation: speeds up work +lbr shortage
»Less water in aeroponics: recycled
»Control of temp: sub-trop or temperate crop available throughout
the year
»Local supply: fresher

45.  Fun Fun FunFun Fun Fun 
with Hi-Tech Farming in S’pore!!!with Hi-Tech Farming in S’pore!!!
Describe the +ves+ves & -ves-ves of Hi-Tech farming
»Set up and operation cost: expensive
»Necessary knowledge and technical skills: training, time
and money
»Pest or disease: spread rapidly (same nutrient storage
tank)
»Not all plants can be grown: insufficient knowledge of
nutrient requirement of plants

46.  Fun Fun FunFun Fun Fun 
with Hi-Tech Farming in S’pore!!!with Hi-Tech Farming in S’pore!!!
Access the viabilityviability of Hi-Tech farming in
S’pore
-Factors that encourage dev of farming
-Problems faced by farmers