TAPAH PRISON GROWING FERTIGATED WATERMELONS UNDER URBAN FARMING PROJECT

TAPAH, March 21 (Bernama) -- The Urban Agriculture Programme, which was introduced as a pilot project last year, has been further expanded through collaboration with the Malaysian Prison Department to support the national food security agenda.

State Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun said the Watermelon Fertigation Scheme, implemented at Tapah Prison, was one example of the initiatives implemented by the state.

He said it was the result of a continuation of the Hydroponic Rock Melon pilot project at Rumah Seri Kenangan in Seri Iskandar on Feb 25 last year which has provided fruitful returns for the residents of the institution.

"This project focuses on growing watermelons using a fertigation system on a 0.4-hectare (ha) plot of land with 1,500 tree seedlings that will benefit 4,000 prospects and 500 prison staff, and will be expanded to other prisons in future.

"The scheme will also add value to Tapah Prison which also receives government initiatives with the implementation of the Agro-MAS Peka MADANI 2024 Upskilling Programme which focuses on cassava, matag (hybrid coconut), pisang tanduk (horn banana) for cooking, and oil palm plantation on ​​45.6 ha of agricultural land," he said at a press conference here today.

Mohd Zolkafly said this after officiating the Tapah Prison Urban Agriculture Project and the handover of the Tapah Prison Watermelon Fertigation System, which was also attended by Perak Prison director Deputy Prison Commissioner C. Charin Promwichit.

He said the state also supports every effort to make the Perak Sejahtera 2030 blueprint a success and expressed commitment to ensure the continuity of the scheme.

"The Urban Agriculture Programme allocates RM25,000 to each district and so far has been implemented in Tapah and Perak Tengah so we will have a tour after this.

"This crop project will not only focus on watermelon or rock melon because we will grow other crops such as chilli, lettuce and other vegetables," he said.

Mohd Zolkafly said every individual, including inmates serving sentences, deserves the opportunity to improve their lives, apart from learning useful agricultural skills.

"It is not just about imparting farming technique to them but giving hope, forming discipline, and creating new opportunities for prisoners who want to build a better life after undergoing the rehabilitation process.

"This programme is not only to encourage the community to work in the fields but also to empower individuals including the elderly and inmates of rehabilitation institutions with modern agricultural knowledge that can generate economic benefits," he added.

-- BERNAMA