FEASIBILITY STUDY ON MICROBIAL PRODUCTION AND POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIALIZATION
Authors: Ahmad Kamil M. J. and Farniza Shareen J
Journal Issue: Malaysian Cocoa Journal, Volume 13(1)/2021
Keywords: Microbial formulation, Black pod and Cocoa pod borer
Published On: 11/01/2021
Abstract
The aim of this study is to find out the potential of the microbial formulation is viable to be produced and commercialized as a bio control agent to overcome the black pod disease and cocoa pod borer (CPB) problems in Malaysia. Black pod disease and CPB are major disease and pest of cocoa in Malaysia. Damages caused by the black pod disease and CPB can result in significant loss of cocoa yield for up to 90%. Currently fungicides and insecticide usage in controlling black pod disease and CPB is widely practised by the cocoa farmers in Malaysia. However, the usage of chemical pesticides is not cost effective to the cocoa farmers and also not environmentally and user friendly approach. Hence, biological control may offer an alternative approach to the management of effective integrated disease management systems. This study will discuss on the production and potential for commercialization of microbial which focus on competitors’ analysis on the use of chemical pesticides and microbial formulation in the cocoa plantation. The financial analysis for the production of microbial and the net effect to the cocoa farmers were also discussed. The finding from the study has shown the proposed microbial is cost effective compared to the usage of chemical pesticides, the microbial formulation cost only RM143 per year as compared to chemical pesticides that cost RM900 per year. This means that microbial formulation has potential to reduce the production cost for cocoa farmers in Malaysia.