SERDANG, Sept 19: The National Farmers Organisation (NAFAS), through its subsidiary, NAFAS Bajakimia Sdn Bhd (NBKSB), has today launched Peladang 25, a controlled-release liquid fertiliser.
Peladang 25 is a specially formulated liquid fertiliser, designed with controlled-release technology to ensure that its nitrogen content is gradually released to provide plants with continuous and effective nutrients throughout their growth periods.
NAFAS board chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar said that Peladang 25 demonstrates NAFAS’ capability in fertiliser innovation, and marks a significant step toward competing with major fertiliser players.
The product also serves as a new approach to supporting sustainable agriculture, while upholding environmental sustainability, Mahfuz said after the launch of Peladang 25, at the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agrotourism (MAHA) Exhibition 2024.
NBKSB chief executive officer Zalifudin Md Arshad said Peladang 25 has been rigorously tested over two seasons – equivalent to one year – at the Technical Division of the Department of Agriculture aimed at optimising the liquid fertiliser’s effectiveness, which is designed to minimise nutrient wastage and promote environmental sustainability.
Peladang 25 is targeted at a variety of crops including rice, oil palm, pineapple, and napier grass where NAFAS aims to boost crop production by 10 to 15 per cent with its use.
“For a one-hectare area, one bottle of Peladang 25 is sufficient. The product is also compatible with mechanised fertiliser application methods, such as drones, and can be used together with fungicides and herbicides,” Zalifudin explained.
When asked how Peladang 25 differs from solid fertilisers, he said the new product does not rely on water for application, making it effective in both dry and humid farming conditions.
“Solid fertilisers, when mixed with water, can freeze due to their high nitrogen content – 46 per cent nitrogen and only one per cent liquid. In contrast, Peladang 25 contains 25 per cent nitrogen and can interact with a higher water content without freezing,” he said.
Nitrogen plays a crucial role in plant health, being a key component in amino acids which form proteins, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll, which in turn converts solar energy into sugars. It is essential for overall plant metabolism and vitality.
— BERNAMA