Social Network Analysis on Knowledge Sharing in Swiftlet Ranching Industry in Gua Musang

The high number of swiftlets ranching, leading to a year-on-year rise in Edible Birds Nest (EBN) production, is a testament to the beguiling market demand. The demand for edible bird's nests, especially from China, has been consistently high. In 2022, demand from China recorded 80 metric tonnes a year, followed by other countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam (The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries, 2022). The edible bird nest industry is a very lucrative and potential industry that can contribute more than 1 billion ringgit to gross national Income via export. However, the industry faces a major hurdle where 70 per cent to 80 per cent of swiftlet ranches are regarded as inefficient since it's failed to achieve 1.36kg of the nest after one year of operation due to a lack of understanding and knowledge in the management of swiftlet ranching. To boost the production of EBN, the management of Swiftlet Ranch can also be improved by mapping out the social network of Swiftlet Ranching in Gua Musang to capture the main stakeholders that can play an important role in knowledge sharing regarding the management of Swiftlet Ranching. This research used the Social Network Analysis method using UCINET software and the Snowball sampling technique to cater for the data. Based on the research finding, Gua Musang Rancher21 have higher indegree relationships and is known as the network's higher knowledge collector. In contrast, for out degree relationship, DVS1 is the main stakeholder that can be an information distributor for managing swiftlet ranching. However, based on the result, centralization closeness shows 39.92% in Gua Musang. This result indicates that the knowledge sharing inside the networks is subdued. These important stakeholders need to be highlighted since any information and policy to improve the management of Swiftlet Ranching can be seen through these actors or stakeholders to ensure the industry becomes more successful

El uso de la billetera electrónica como un indicador de aceptación de la tecnología financiera en Malasia

In the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) the remarkable growth of technology such Financial Technology (Fintech) has skyrocketed to popularity. The widespread use of Fintech such e-wallet is becoming inevitable. The emergence of technology in finance has fuelled interest in how e-wallet usage become an indicator of Fintech’s acceptance among Malaysian users. Few studies in technology acceptance have explicitly addressed the acceptance of replacement technologies but limited studies have been done among Malaysian e-wallet users. Furthermore, as the user adoption has a crucial role for a success and effective implementation of this technology, there is a need to assess user acceptance. In response, researchers tested the applicability of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to further explore the factors influencing the acceptance of e-wallet among Malaysian users. A quantitative study adopted using questionnaires. These findings suggest an extension of the TAM model for convergence technology such e-wallet. The Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software result indicates that all variable test had a higher average of mean which indicates all independent variables are equally important and accepted by the respondents.En la era de la Revolución Industrial 4.0 (IR 4.0), el notable crecimiento de la tecnología como la Tecnología Financiera (Fintech) se ha disparado a la popularidad. El uso generalizado de la billetera electrónica Fintech se está volviendo inevitable. El surgimiento de la tecnología en las finanzas ha alimentado el interés en cómo el uso de la billetera electrónica se convierte en un indicador de la aceptación de Fintech entre los usuarios de Malasia. Pocos estudios en aceptación de tecnología han abordado explícitamente la aceptación de tecnologías de reemplazo, pero se han realizado estudios limitados entre los usuarios de billetera electrónica de Malasia. Además, dado que la adopción del usuario tiene un papel crucial para el éxito y la implementación efectiva de esta tecnología, es necesario evaluar la aceptación del usuario. En respuesta, los investigadores probaron la aplicabilidad del Modelo de Aceptación de Tecnología (TAM) para explorar más a fondo los factores que influyen en la aceptación de la billetera electrónica entre los usuarios de Malasia. Un estudio cuantitativo adoptado utilizando cuestionarios. Estos hallazgos sugieren una extensión del modelo TAM para la tecnología de convergencia, como la billetera electrónica. El resultado del software Paquete estadístico para las ciencias sociales (SPSS) indica que todas las pruebas de variables tuvieron un promedio más alto de media, lo que indica que todas las variables independientes son igualmente importantes y aceptadas por los encuestados

Energy Efficiency of Kenaf Cultivation in Kelantan, Malaysia by Using Data Envelopment Analysis

Agricultural production has become aggressive energy concentrated in a determination to supply more food to the increasing population and provide sufficient and adequate essentials. The limited natural resources and the effect of the use of different energy sources on the environment and human health such as global warming, it is necessary to investigate energy consumption patterns in agriculture. In this study data envelopment analysis method approach has been used to determine the efficiencies of kenaf farmers concerning energy use in kenaf cultivation production activities in Kelantan, Malaysia. The study’s empirical result will help to segregate the 15 most efficient farmers and inefficient ones. Other than that, the data envelopment analysis method also will help to identify wasteful uses of energy from different sources by inefficient farmers and to suggest reasonable savings in energy uses from different sources of inputs. The rank method and distribution of virtual inputs are used to get insights into the individual Kenaf farmer performance, rank efficient farmers and identify the improved operating practices followed by a group of truly efficient Kenaf farmers. The result of the analysis indicates the average value of technical efficiency, Pure technical efficiency and Scale efficiency scores of kenaf cultivation production were 0.854, 0.962 and 0.887 respectively. These results imply that all inefficient farmers operate at optimum scale size and 11.3% energy saving is possible without affecting Kenaf yield level. Result also reveals higher potential contribution to total energy saving is from fertilizer (86.5%), Diesel (13%), Pesticides (0.3%) and human labor (0.2%)

Sustainable management of the swiftlet ranching industry in Johor Bahru and Gua Musang, Malaysia

The rise in the number of swiftlet ranches leading to a year-on-year rise in EBN production is testament to the beguiling market demand. However the industry faces a major hurdle where 70 percent to 80 percent of swiftlet ranches are regarded as inefficient since failed to achieve 1.36kg of nest after one year of operation due to a lack of understanding and knowledge in the management of swiftlet ranching. In order to boost the production of EBN, the level of total management efficiency of swiftlet ranches in Johor Bahru and Gua Musang has been measured using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The results reveal that the efficiency of management inputs (electricity, water irrigation, human labour and pesticides) are more important than the scale or size in both areas. The DEA results also suggest that there are a total of 15 efficient ranchers in both areas that can be as benchmarked for inefficient ranchers. From the empirical results of the Tobit regression, the usage of planks, water irrigation and labour are important determinants that can influence total management efficiency in Johor Bahru while size of swiftlet ranch and water irrigation are important determinants in Gua Musang. By applying the DEA method its not only can help to improve the level of management of swiftlet ranch but also can improve the environment practice with an optimum input energy level for only 18.04MJ and 9.81MJ was required for Johor Bahru and Gua Musang respectively. As such, the total energy that could be potentially be saved at 286.69% and 700.14% for Johor Bahru and Gua Musang respectively. Other than that, the management of swiftlet ranch also can be improve by maps out the social network of swiftlet ranching in Johor Bahru and Gua Musang in order to capture the main stakeholders that can play an important role for knowledge sharing regarding the management of swiftlet ranch. In Johor Baharu and Gua Musang Rancher 3 and Rancher 21 have higher indegree relationships where known as the higher knowledge collector in the network, while for out degree relationship, Rancher 2 and DV1 are the main stakeholder that can play role as given information regarding management of swiftlet ranches. However base on the result centralization closeness 36.52% in Johor Bahru and 39.92% in Gua Musang showing that the knowledge sharing inside both networks are subdued. All this important stakeholder need to be highlight since any information and policy to improve the management of the swiftlet ranch can be seen through these actors or stakeholders to ensure the industry becomes more successful in the future

Palm Oil Export and Environmental Pollution in Malaysia: Evidence from ARDL Approach

This paper seeks to identify the effect of palm oil export on environmental pollutants. The National Income (GDP) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) were also included in the model as control variables. This study employs the auto-regressive distribution lag (ARDL) econometric technique, and the analysis is based on time series data from 1990 to 2020. The bound F-test and Johansen cointegration tests confirmed that palm oil export significantly accelerates environmental pollution. However, the results from the short-run estimate explore that all the variables are insignificant. This study concludes that Malaysia should control international trade activities to deal with pollution problems. &nbsp

Energy Efficiency in Production of Swiftlet Edible Bird’s Nest

The swiftlet edible bird’s nest (EBN) is a ranching industry in which the ranchers do not have to own the birds and are not required to prepare the food as the birds will find their own. However, the ranchers need to provide the ranches and attract the birds for nesting. This study examined a two-stage analysis on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in the swiftlet EBN production in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. In the first stage, non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to measure the efficiency score. The results revealed that out of 150 ranches, 7.33% and 40.67% of the ranches were efficient under the Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes (CCR) and Banker, Charnes, and Cooper (BCC) models, respectively. The average of technical, pure technical, and scale efficiencies are 0.35361, 0.93071, and 0.37199, respectively. Analysis on optimum energy requirement and energy savings showed the total energy input that could be saved by the inefficient ranches was 0.89391 MJ/sqft−1 (63.87%). In addition, the inefficient ranches could reduce emissions by 63.86% (0.04497 kg Co2eq/sqft−1). In the second stage of analysis using the Tobit model, the results reported that a nesting plank was the factor with the most significantly positive effect on the ranch efficiency to improve their efficiency in energy consumption savings and emissions reduction in the EBN production

Energy efficiency in production of swiftlet edible birds nest

The swiftlet edible bird’s nest (EBN) is a ranching industry in which the ranchers do not have to own the birds and are not required to prepare the food as the birds will find their own. However, the ranchers need to provide the ranches and attract the birds for nesting. This study examined a two-stage analysis on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in the swiftlet EBN production in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. In the first stage, non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to measure the efficiency score. The results revealed that out of 150 ranches, 7.33% and 40.67% of the ranches were efficient under the Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes (CCR) and Banker, Charnes, and Cooper (BCC) models, respectively. The average of technical, pure technical, and scale efficiencies are 0.35361, 0.93071, and 0.37199, respectively. Analysis on optimum energy requirement and energy savings showed the total energy input that could be saved by the inefficient ranches was 0.89391 MJ/sqft−1 (63.87%). In addition, the inefficient ranches could reduce emissions by 63.86% (0.04497 kg Co2eq/sqft−1). In the second stage of analysis using the Tobit model, the results reported that a nesting plank was the factor with the most significantly positive effect on the ranch efficiency to improve their efficiency in energy consumption savings and emissions reduction in the EBN production

El uso de la billetera electrónica como un indicador de aceptación de la tecnología financiera en Malasia

In the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) the remarkable growth of technology such Financial Technology (Fintech) has skyrocketed to popularity. The widespread use of Fintech such e-wallet is becoming inevitable. The emergence of technology in finance has fuelled interest in how e-wallet usage become an indicator of Fintech’s acceptance among Malaysian users. Few studies in technology acceptance have explicitly addressed the acceptance of replacement technologies but limited studies have been done among Malaysian e-wallet users. Furthermore, as the user adoption has a crucial role for a success and effective implementation of this technology, there is a need to assess user acceptance. In response, researchers tested the applicability of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to further explore the factors influencing the acceptance of e-wallet among Malaysian users. A quantitative study adopted using questionnaires. These findings suggest an extension of the TAM model for convergence technology such e-wallet. The Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software result indicates that all variable test had a higher average of mean which indicates all independent variables are equally important and accepted by the respondents.En la era de la Revolución Industrial 4.0 (IR 4.0), el notable crecimiento de la tecnología como la Tecnología Financiera (Fintech) se ha disparado a la popularidad. El uso generalizado de la billetera electrónica Fintech se está volviendo inevitable. El surgimiento de la tecnología en las finanzas ha alimentado el interés en cómo el uso de la billetera electrónica se convierte en un indicador de la aceptación de Fintech entre los usuarios de Malasia. Pocos estudios en aceptación de tecnología han abordado explícitamente la aceptación de tecnologías de reemplazo, pero se han realizado estudios limitados entre los usuarios de billetera electrónica de Malasia. Además, dado que la adopción del usuario tiene un papel crucial para el éxito y la implementación efectiva de esta tecnología, es necesario evaluar la aceptación del usuario. En respuesta, los investigadores probaron la aplicabilidad del Modelo de Aceptación de Tecnología (TAM) para explorar más a fondo los factores que influyen en la aceptación de la billetera electrónica entre los usuarios de Malasia. Un estudio cuantitativo adoptado utilizando cuestionarios. Estos hallazgos sugieren una extensión del modelo TAM para la tecnología de convergencia, como la billetera electrónica. El resultado del software Paquete estadístico para las ciencias sociales (SPSS) indica que todas las pruebas de variables tuvieron un promedio más alto de media, lo que indica que todas las variables independientes son igualmente importantes y aceptadas por los encuestados

The evidence of Industrial Revolution 4.0 through the Adoption of Financial Technology (FINTECH) during COVID-19 pandemic among Malaysians

This study aims to further analyze the factors that contribute to the adoption of Financial Technology (FINTECH) among Malaysians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial institutions all over the world have been grappling with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and striving to understand the immediate challenges to society, economies, and the long-term implications on the interconnected financial system during this time of crisis. As a result, this study will provide light on society's desire to adopt FINTECH in the face of the epidemic. A total of 402 surveys were distributed and gathered from FINTECH users between the ages of 18 and 60. SPSS was then used to examine the data. Consumers' intentions to use e-wallets during the COVID-19 pandemic are heavily influenced by performance expectations, effort expectations, social influence, and government support, as per the research findings. During the COVID-19 epidemic in Malaysia, researchers discovered that trust variants had no impact on customers' willingness to use e-wallets