AGRICULTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE,
TUARAN
INTRODUCTION
The Agriculture Research Institute (ARI) was established in July 1963 with the objective of
developing the agriculture industry through R & D activities for a planned, competitive and
sustainable agriculture. It consist of various sections namely Paddy, Food Crop, Crop
Protection, Soil Section, Agricultural Chemistry and Physiology & Plant Nutrition to carry
out research projects.
LOCATION
ARI is situated at about 35 km northeast of the state capital, Kota Kinabalu. It covers 56
hectares on the flood plain of the Tuaran River. The soils are derived from alluvium of
various textures ranging between well-drained yellowish brown loamy sands on the levee
area and poorly drained grey clays. The Institute has two sub-stations namely Kundasang
and Mesilou, which have an area of 10 hectares and 40 hectares respectively. The
Kundasang sub-station is situated at about 75 km from Tuaran on a series of alluvial terraces
on the foothills of Mount Kinabalu with an altitude of 1280 m. The Mesilou sub-station is 7
km from Kundasang sub-station with an altitude of 1400 m.
METEOROLOGICAL DATA (1991-2001): -
(Agricultural Research Institute, Tuaran)
Mean annual rainfall 2016.82 mm
Mean monthly rainfall range 81.5 mm to 334.2 mm
Wettest month May to December
Driest month January to April
Mean daily temperature range 22.29 ºC to 32.87 ºC
Mean relative humidity at 8.00 h 85.06 %
at 14.00 h 68.47 %
Mean sunshine hour 6.72 h
METEOROLOGICAL DATA (1991-2001): -
(Masilou Sub-Station)
Mean annual rainfall 1507.09 mm
Mean monthly rainfall range 149.5 mm to 231.5 mm
Wettest month January to December
Driest month -
Mean daily temperature range 15.42 ºC to 23.91 ºC
Mean relative humidity at 8.00 h 82.22 %
at 14.00 h 78.45 %
Mean sunshine hour NA
OBJECTIVE
The main objectives of ARI are to improve methods of crop production and to increase yield
by overcoming problems faced by the farmers especially with regards to pests and diseases.
The Institute also has the objective of producing soil maps for Sabah, as a basis for
recommendations for land utilization. The Institute provide technical and support advices on
crop management, land development and utilization, crop protection and laboratory analyses.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Agriculture Research Institute is under the jurisdiction of the Deputy of Research and
Development Sabah and is headed by an Assistant Director. It has 14 Research Officers, 123
supporting staff and 113 workers. The organisational structure is as below:
Contact Address:
Assistant Director
Agricultural Research Institute
P. O. Box 103
89207 Tuaran
Sabah, Malaysia
Telephone: 088-788436/788437/788590/788341
Fax: 088-788548
Pest Management
Research Officer
Chemistry II
Research Officer
Soil Survey Plant Pathology I
Crop Physiology
Section Section
Research Officer
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Station
Management
Adminstration
Technology
Information
Section
Research Officer
Entomology I
Entomology II
Research Officer
Research Officer
Plant Pathology II
Research Officer
Soil Science
Section
Research Officer I
Research Officer II
Soil Survey
Research Officer III
Crop Protection
Chemistry III
& Plant Nutrition
Research Officer
Paddy
Soil Management
Plant Breeding
Section
Research Officer
Agricultural
Chemistry Section
Agronomy Section
Paddy
Research Officer
Food Crop
Research Officer
Crop Physiology
Research Officer
Chemistry I