Researchers from the University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) shared their expertise in (IoT) system and fertigation for farmers in Pahang

A group of researchers from the University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) shared their expertise in the Internet of Things (IoT)-based Smart Farming System project. This initiative, based on agricultural applications and technology, successfully elevated the living standards of Bumiputera, particularly the low-income rural families (B40), while creating job opportunities for the local community.

The researchers include Dr. Ahmad Najmuddin Ibrahim and Dr. Muhammad Amirul Abdullah from the Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering and Mechatronics (FTKPM), Dr. Nor Hanuni Ramli@Said from the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology (FTKKP), and Dr. Nurul Ashykin Abd Aziz, the Head of Program (Entrepreneurship) from the Faculty of Industrial Management (FIM).

The collaboration between UMPSA and the Bumiputera Empowerment Agenda Unit (TERAJU) provided an opportunity for 45 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the B40 group to produce chili and eggplant agricultural products for the local market through the Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development Fund Program (DPUB). This program covered 33 locations across four districts in Kuantan, Pekan, Maran, and Temerloh.

Under the coordination of the Industrial and Community Networking Center (PJIM), the group successfully secured a grant of RM2,270,000 from TERAJU for the implementation of the DPUB program since 2021, benefiting the community in the field of agriculture.

Dr. Ahmad Najmuddin highlighted that the technology employed in the project enhances the precision of water usage in irrigation systems and the concentration of fertilizer for plant growth. The system incorporates three main features: user-friendly automation control for water and fertilizer irrigation, sensors to monitor water and fertilizer levels in tanks, and sensors to assess soil moisture, condition, and temperature, all integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) technology in a device.

"Through this automation system, farmers can now control and manage their fields using just a smartphone, allowing them to oversee farm operations regardless of distance, as long as the area is equipped with an internet connection," he explained.

Dr. Nor Hanuni added that over 1,000 fertigation polybags, two large water tanks, fertilizers, insecticides, disease control chemicals, and other plant necessities were contributed to support the farmers' field requirements. This system facilitates efficient farm management, resulting in higher-quality crops.

Dr. Muhammad Amirul emphasized that the technology enables farmers to monitor water and fertilizer levels in tanks efficiently, whether through manual or automated processes. The system also allows for automatic mixing of substances, saving time, and enables farmers to monitor plant growth using their mobile phones.

"With this initiative, UMPSA not only introduces advanced technology to the farming community but also provides practical support to enhance productivity and sustainability in agriculture in the state of Pahang," he stated during the monitoring of the IoT system at one of the participant group's locations in Kampung Bentan, Pekan, covering half an acre of land with 3,000 eggplant trees and 1,000 chili plants. Executive Technical, Industrial and Community Networking Center (PJIM) UMPSA, Yusmin Jaafar, was also present at the location.

There are four methods for conducting SULAM, including direct SULAM, indirect SULAM, advocacy SULAM, and research-based SULAM. SULAM was implemented at UMPSA in 2019, where it was initially assigned to Malaysian Studies (UHE3182). After a semester, the responsibility of SULAM was transferred to the Dean of Students Development of Student Affairs before it was returned to the Students Affairs and Alumni Department (JHEPA). Starting in 2023, SULAM is transferred to the Academic and International Affairs Department (JHEAA), with the Center for Human Sciences serving as the secretariat. The SULAM project had a positive start, as two faculties conducted SULAM in Semester II 2022/2023 via courses of their choice. The Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology (FTKEE) and Faculty of Industrial Management (FPI) proactively took the challenge of addressing the related needs of the community as outlined by SULAM.

A course on Collegiality Interaction and Management (BVE2433) was offered at FTKEE under the course coordinator Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafie Bakar. The project titled “Tahu STYLE dengan MSWord” was carried out by Prudential Kuantan and Team Training MZJ FM for 80 orphanages of Persatuan Kebajikan Anak Yatim Pahang (PEKAYA). As part of the PEKAYA orphanage association, orphans from Permata Al-Insyirah, Permata Camar, Rumah Anak Yatim & Fakir Miskin Baitul Husna, Rumah Anak Yatim Darussalam, Permata Kauthar, INSTAR, and Maahad Tahfiz Tanjung Lumpur were included.

There was a shortage of skills in handling basic MS Word among participants that had been addressed. The project aimed to provide participants with learning experiences in integrating the knowledge they acquire with short courses in ICT, particularly MS Word, at the intermediate level and is in line with the challenges addressed. In accordance with the needs of SULAM, the assessment process included reflective writing during the planning, implementation, and post-implementation phases. In addition, students enrolled in BVE2433 acted as facilitators during the project. They gained valuable insight into their experience where they played a crucial role in guiding and scaffolding the participants’ learning process. The impact of the project was measured by comparing participants’ pre-test results with those post-test results and determining whether participants’ comprehension and knowledge had increased. In light of this, the experience and knowledge gained from learning how to correctly handle Word documents and templates in MS Word enabled participants to enhance their knowledge of handling intermediate-level MS Word documents.

In the course of Business Information System (BIS1153), another SULAM project was conducted by FPI at Pusat Pemulihan Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) Kampung Aur Telong, Kelantan, under the direction of Dr. Noridayu Mah Hashim. This community faces the challenge of improving its financial performance, as its profit margins are unsatisfactory, with its products specialised in the bakery and furniture industries. This challenge is due to ineffective promotional activities that failed to engage consumers and persuade them to purchase the product. The goal of this project was to create promotional content for the product to be marketed through social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Shopee, and Lazada. This approach resulted in positive outcomes for disabled persons as the digital content created by students made the operations of the centre more sustainable.

The two projects were deemed to be impactful on the students, community, and university in a dyadic manner, whereby a positive outcome was obtained for all parties. The benefits of the programmes came through the transfer of valuable knowledge and skills, the development of social capital, and the growth of personal potential. SULAM UMPSA is a catalyst for a sustainable community. It makes sure the spirit of helping the community is kept alive. In addition to providing opportunities for students and the community to collaborate for a better future, it serves as a platform for the university to demonstrate its commitment to social responsibility.