ECERDC-UMP Cucumber Fertigation Project empowers socioeconomy of Orang Asli

LIPIS, 9 April 2023 – The Cucumber Fertigation Project undertaken by the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) and UMP Advanced with Orang Asli of Kampung Pantos has achieved the goal of strengthening the socioeconomy of Orang Asli through encouraging outcomes.

The survey was held during a visit to the Cucumber Fertigation Project site by UMP Advanced and ECERDC, Petronas Foundation and MyKasih.

Also present were the Chairman of the UMP Advanced Board of Directors, Dato’ Mohd Sharil Abdullah, General Manager of the ECER Human Capital Development Division, Dato’ Wan Mohd Hasnan Abdullah, Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Industrial and Community Collaboration Division, Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Nurul Hazlina Noordin and Associate Professor Ts. Ts. Hamzah Ahmad who performs the function of the Chief Executive Officer of UMP Advanced.

Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Nurul Hazlina in her speech congratulated the success of this project and thanked all collaborators who gave the opportunity to UMP Advanced to handle this project with the community.

“This collaboration is expected to continue in the future and more communities will benefit from what has been jointly worked on,” she said.

The visit session was also accompanied by 50 UMP KILAU volunteers to help harvest cucumbers to ease the task of farmers.

 According to Associate Professor Dr. Ts. Hamzah, this cucumber plantation project is being worked on in a 1.5-acre area in Kampung Pantos and joined by five participants consisting of Orang Asli communities.

“The project started in January and alhamdulillah the harvest started on 6 April and the total yield is expected to reach 10 metric tons.

“All these participants will always be guided in terms of planting, care and harvesting techniques to ensure that the cucumbers produced are of good quality,” he said.

One of the programme participants, Hasmizan Mohamad, 35, thanked UMP, ECERDC, Petronas Foundation and MyKasih for giving her the opportunity to participate in this project. She was able to increase her family’s income through this project compared to only as a housewife.

“In addition, many things were learned starting from planting to harvesting cucumbers,” she said.

Also present were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim Mohamed, who performs the functions of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Operations Manager (Wellbeing and Community Development), Yayasan Petronas, Adleen Kamaruddin and MyKasih Manager, Asha Devi as well as ECER Community Manager, Saharudin Ramli.

By: Nor Salwana Mohammad Idris, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department

Translation by: Dr.   Rozaimi  Abu  Samah, Engineering  College/Faculty   of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology