From garden to urban farm

Eggplants growing at the farm set up at the Japanese Garden in Island Glades, Penang. — Photos: LIM BENG TATT/The Star

THE Japanese Garden in Island Glades will be the first public garden to have a hydroponic and aquaponic urban farming on Penang island.

The pilot project consists of hydroponic farming of salads and aquaponic which is a system that combines aquaculture with hydroponics.

Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid said the Island Park Village Community Council (MPKK) received a grant of 200 polybags and an automatic watering system from the state Agriculture Department.

“There is also an added attraction in the form of a beautiful mural on the walls of the MPKK building by Penang’s famous caricature artist Mohd Azmi Mohd Hussin, ” she said.

Syerleena said the community farming and the mural were part of a beautification programme to attract more people to the garden.

Island Glades MPKK chairman Dr Tan Seang Aun said the pilot hydroponic farm would also have red chillies while the aquaponic would feature the farming of salads.

“It is a very easy and convenient way of farming. The Agriculture Department will send their staff early next year to conduct training for those who are interested, ” he said.

The mural features caricatures of politicians and community leaders, including Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and Bukit Gelugor MP Ram Karpal.

The community farming project, costing RM19,800, was launched by Jelutong MP RSN Rayer on behalf of Chow.