Consumers Association of Penang

Giving a voice to the little people...since 1970

Welcome to the Consumers’ Association of Penang’s “Go Natural Fair” 2011.

From 9 to 11 December at the Botanic Gardens, Penang, we will hold a three-day fair to introduce to you life sustaining techniques and methods for organic produce and home solutions for your gardens and your personal health for a greener, healthier and safer future for you and your families.

The fair will demonstrate various methods used by farmers locally and from India to produce organic produce in ways which are safer and more productive than modern chemical agriculture.

Towards toxic-free and chemical-free agriculture

Modern agricultural practices, with the introduction of monocrop cultivation and high yielding varieties in food crops has meant escalating use of pesticides due to increased susceptibility to diseases and pests. It is time for us to shift towards more sustainable models in agriculture which are ecologically sound and economically viable otherwise we will not only damage our natural resources but damage the human health perpetually.

Malaysia should support and adopt sustainable indigenous knowledge and practices for livestock husbandry

Malaysia's demand for livestock continues to grow as meat consumption per capita keeps increasing. Per capita consumption of beef has increased from 2.4kg/year in 1985 to 8.4kg/year in 2010 and our self-sufficiency level for beef is 28%. In Malaysia, poultry and pig production has developed to a stage where it is self-sufficient.

To meet the increasing demand, farmers and livestock rearers in Malaysia have to undertake their production with several multiple challenges which are compromising the health of their animals, the incomes of farmers, as also in the long run the health of consumers, forcing small farmers out of the livelihood of producing safe food in sustainable ways:

How to make Farmers' Effective Micro-organisms

Farmers’ Effective Micro-organisms (FEM) improve the soil, reduce plant disease and promote plant growth.

INGREDIENTS

Pumpkin—3kg, Banana—3kg, Papaya—3 kg, Brown Sugar—3 kg, Eggs—5, Water—10 litres

Why Organic Farming?

Organic agriculture is defined as "a holistic food production management system, which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. This is accomplished by using, where possible, agronomic, biological and mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfill any specific function within the system." (FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission).