COMMUNITY PROJECT
Nurturing Community Involvement In Agricultural Engineering Projects
By Muhammad Hazwan Hamzah , Nur Azuan Husin , Diyana Jamaludin , Hasfalina Che Man , Mahirah Jahari Smart Farming Technology Research Centre , Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering , Faculty of Engineering , Universiti Putra Malaysia
COMMUNITY PROJECT
Community involvement is an important part of student and academic life at Malaysian higher learning institutions . Experience with complex engineering and technology problems , including knowledge of design systems , components , and sustainable environmental processes , can be obtained by students either individually ( final year projects ), collectively in a group ( integrated design projects ), or through Service-Learning Malaysia-University for Society ( SULAM ). In the engineering academic programme , students are expected to apply reasoning informed by contextual knowledge to assess societal , health , safety , legal , and cultural issues and the subsequent responsibilities relevant to professional engineering practice and solutions to complex engineering problems . In addition to these , technical know-how is used to solve agricultural engineering-related issues in the community . The major disciplines of agricultural engineering involve mechanisation and automation , soil and water resources , postharvest and environment , and agricultural informatics .
Currently , the global agro-food sector is confronted with several issues , including natural resource scarcity , agricultural productivity and innovation , changing demographics and nutritional trends , food waste and loss , and climate change . The National Agro-Food Policy 2.0 ( NAP 2.0 ) 2021 – 2030 was introduced by the Malaysian Government to increase the competitiveness of the agro-food industry through the use of advanced agricultural technology , promote economic growth , and ensure environmental sustainability following the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDG ) 2030 . In line with the Universiti Putra Malaysia ( UPM ) Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025 , which aims to preserve the industrial network ecosystem and society by utilising expertise per national demands , the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering ( DBAE ), UPM initiated several community programmes involving department staff and students .
AquaBAE Project with Suria Residences
AquaBAE with Suria Residences , Pajam consisted of 14 students and three lecturers . This project is part of the engineering course Engineers and Society ( ECV 3011 ), which included the application of engineering knowledge through joint activities with the community . This project is in line with UPM ’ s mission and goal to make a meaningful contribution to the formation of wealth and national development as well as global progress through the exploration and dissemination of knowledge between the university and the community .
Aquaculture is increasingly recognised as a sustainable alternative to traditional farming . It requires less land and water , produces lower
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