The participants posing for a group photo at UCTC in UPM.
UNIVERSITI Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) University Community Transformation Centre (UCTC) organised a programme called Edu-Park to foster children’s interest in agriculture.
A total of 28 children aged seven to 15 participated in the programme, learning through hands-on experience about the importance of agriculture as a food source, developing new skills in agriculture, and recognising animal anatomy.
The programme’s head, Muhammad Shafiq Kamal said universities were not just educational centres for their students but also for assets of the community, including children who could acquire general knowledge.
“Early exposure of children to the campus environment can instil enthusiasm and foster determination within them, so that one day they may choose UPM to pursue their studies,” he said.
One of the participants, Nurain Syakirah Mohd Zain, 15, said she was excited about joining the programme and gaining agricultural knowledge that could be utilised in the future.
“This programme is excellent, and the activities conducted here provide new knowledge and spark my interest in delving deeper into agricultural science.
An instructor explaining the techniques of planting.
“I also get to make new acquaintances and exchange views with them on the activities here,” said Nurain.
The programme also had other activities including seed sowing, making kokedama (a ball of soil covered with moss on which an ornamental plant grows), hydroponics and liquid organic fertiliser production under the guidance of officers at the university’s UCTC.
The participants had a chance to visit the grey oyster mushroom planting site and harvested some mushrooms.
They also visited quail and tilapia fish farming sites at the UCTC plot.
Other activities included stopping by the Animal Anatomy Museum located at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, which is one of the museums open to the public for visits under the Edu-Park UPM programme.
Here, they had the opportunity to see preserved animals and learn about the anatomy of farm animals.
The participants took part in preparing samples of farm animal blood cells and observed blood cells using a microscope.
The children’s parents expressed appreciation for the programme.
A participant’s mother, Shararina Ab Rahman said she was satisfied with the activities and hoped that such programmes could be continued, especially during school holidays.
“Thank you to UPM and the educators involved in this programme,” she said.
“I hope that UPM will continue to organise such programmes, which bring joy to our children as they acquire beneficial knowledge,” she added.
Among the other locations for agro-tourism packages available at UPM are the human anatomy museum, human pathology museum, Malay heritage museum, deer farm, UPM equine centre and integrated farm.
