KUALA LUMPUR, 6 February 2014 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rubber Industry Smallholders' Development Authority (RISDA) to conduct research on best agricultural practices to optimise rubber productivity through an efficient fertilizer application method, the use of rubber production booster, and tapping innovation.

According to the Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KLBW), Dato’ Seri Haji Mohd Shafie Haji Apdal, research are important in producing new products and knowledge for national development, but most importantly for the university to implement it with high-impact results.

“It is to ensure that the findings will be equally shared by the community in improving the economy, especially among the rural communities,” said Mohd. Shafie.

To achieve that, research undertaken must be relevant and realistic not merely for submission to journals, but can be understood and the results can be shared by the community, he said in welcoming the effort by USM and RISDA in firming the efforts with a MoU this morning.

He also hoped that the MoU signed could also benefit the development of downstream industries among smallholders.

Earlier, in the opening ceremony speech, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman said that USM is ready to implement knowledge sharing for the benefit of the community and the public as it is the expected result on the signing of the MoU.

According to Omar, USM has always welcomed such efforts which have achieved much by working with various parties.

This MoU is also expected to strengthen the academic collaboration, teaching and research collaboration between RISDA College and USM, thus assisting RISDA in developing new high-potential clones with genomic information available in public domain.

The MoU was signed by Omar on behalf of USM and Director-General Dato' Wan Mohamad Zuki Hj Mohamad signed on behalf RISDA, witnessed by Minister of KLBW. Also present at the event were KLBW Deputy Minister, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi; Secretary-General Dato' Seri Ibrahim Muhammad; USM Dean of the School of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Sofiman Othman; and senior officials of RISDA and USM. - Translation: Sharifah Darweena Syed Ahmad Amir Feisal/Text and Photos: Mohamad Abdullah