Annual report on the Malayan Union.

Date:
[1948]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the Malayan Union. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    74/234 (page 56)
    Arecanut. This crop is entirely grown by small-holders and mainly exists in mixed cultivation although there are certain areas where it is planted as the sole crop. Production is in the form of split or sliced nuts, mainly the former. Coffee. Coffee has for years been declining as a crop owing to competition from outside sources. A few small estates still exist but the bulk of the crop is in mixed stand; quite a considerable area is interplanted with coconuts. Derr is. Of some importance before the war, derris is now of less con¬ sequence as a crop, and planting is mainly confined to the insecticidal requirements of the market gardening community. A few estates, however, have of late, evinced some interest in this crop. Gambler. Formerly quite extensively grown as a catch crop with rubber, gambier has been of little importance since the war. Fruits. Fruit trees in mixed stand are a feature of every kampong and the* total area planted throughout the country is very considerable. The year was an excellent one for fruit in the north-western areas but elsewhere crops were variable. The planting of orchards of indi¬ vidual species is on the increase. Bananas are an important crop and certain areas have tended to specialise in their production on a sole crop basis. The development by the Department of Agriculture of clonal material of the major local fruits is being continued and there is a large demand on the part of small-holders for this type of planting material which cannot as yet be fully met. Sago. The chief interest has lain in the use of the leaves for the prepara¬ tion of atap for roofing purposes. In addition, numerous small factories process the trunks for the extraction of pearl sago or sago flour but the supply of material is usually insufficient to permit of other than intermittent working. Spices. The main spices grown are chillies, sir eh (betel leaf), ginger and turmeric, mostly in small areas but quite extensive in the aggregate. Prices have been firm during the year and demand steady. The nutmeg industry is now virtually extinct while the clove industry suffered severely during the occupation years and present cropping is negligible. Tapioca. This crop is extensively planted, both as a rice substitute and for sale to the numerous factories which exist throughout the country for manufacturing pearl tapioca or flour, the refuse finding a ready sale as pig feed.