CCM Fertilizers has established a strategic alliance with the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) to undertake research and development (R&D) to promote the commercialization of Nitro Humic Acid (NHA) and crop booster foliar fertilizers.

NHA is a bio-chemically active macromolecule with high molecular weight similar to Humic Acids (HA) and is extracted from coals while commercial HA is a naturally occurring geologically weathered product of coals. NHA is a cost effective substitute for the imported HA and is used as a soil conditioner, coagulating agent and media for foliar fertilizer formulation. It can also be used as an ingredient or additive to manufacture a new class of compound fertilizers.

The NHA project is funded under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s  (MOSTI) TechnoFund scheme and MARDI will provide its technological expertise to carry out R&D as well as consultancy and technical services to produce NHA while CCM Fertilizers will be involved in the commercial production, marketing, distribution and sales of the nitro humic acid and crop booster fertilizer.

Speaking at the commissioning of the NHA pilot plant in CCM Fertilizers Sdn Bhd, Padang Jawa, CCM Berhad Group Managing Director, Dato’ Dr Mohd Hashim Tajudin said the strategic alliance would enable both parties to leverage each other’s expertise to increase plant crop yield and contribute to the development of the country’s agriculture and agro-based industries.

Field trials have proven that NHA based foliar formulation is effective in enhancing the plant crop yield of paddy grain, chilies, tomatoes and citrus by increasing the size and number of harvested fruits.

CCM Fertilizers’ involvement in the commercialization will widen the Company’s range of products and enhance its existing array of compound fertilizers. “We are confident that the combination of CCM Fertilizers’ decades of excellence as a leading fertilizer manufacturer in Malaysia and MARDI’s unparalleled reputation and experience in conducting R&D for almost 40 years will strengthen the agricultural sector’s position as one of the major contributors to the country’s economic development, “ Dato’ Dr Mohd Hashim added.

MARDI Director General, Datuk Dr Abd. Shukor Abd. Rahman was also present to officially commission the NHA pilot plant.

“Our widely acclaimed NHA extraction technology has won numerous awards such as the silver medal at the Malaysia Technology Expo 2007 and the gold medal at the 56th Brussels Innova Energy in Belgium.

“This pilot plant has the capacity to manufacture 20,000 litres of NHA booster formulations per annum. Together with CCM’s strengths in the fertilizers industry, we strongly believe that this joint venture will live up to the expectations and benefit both parties in the long run,” said Datuk Dr Abd. Shukor.

CCM is listed on the main board of Bursa Malaysia and is a key player in the fertilizers, chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries.

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Issued with the compliments of Chemical Company of Malaysia Berhad Through Eric Pringle Associates Public Relations Sdn Bhd. For further information, please contact Ida Fazila Ismail at 03-2161 7144/49/54 or e-mail at ifazila@epapr.com.my