VEGETABLES cultivated with Internet of Things (IoT) technology at a school in Masai, Johor, are sold to the public with proceeds used to sustain production.
The student-managed greenhouse at SMK Seri Kota Puteri 2 not only enables hands-on learning but incorporates science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
Johor Education Department senior assistant director Abdul Karim Masiran acknowledged that smart farming could help expose students to STEM fields and future careers.
“Projects like these allow them to apply what they learn in the classroom while developing problem-solving, critical thinking and technical skills,” he said after launching the greenhouse.
Students involved in the programme are exposed to modern agricultural practices and sustainable farming, he said.
“The approach not only builds skills and confidence, but creates awareness about food security.
“It also helps prepare students for future challenges by encouraging critical thinking, collaboration and a sense of responsibility towards the environment and society.”
The greenhouse can accommodate up to 2,000 plants at a time with pak choy, salad greens and spinach among the main vegetables grown as they can be harvested in four to six weeks.
Abdul Karim said data-driven farming helped the students and their teachers keep an eye on the crop remotely, including soil pH levels, temperature and nutritional deficiencies.
School principal Siti Norbayah Jema’at said the project gave students an opportunity to learn outside the classroom.
“The students enjoy taking part in the initiative because it is not only theoretical, but also practical and encourages teamwork,” she said.
Siti Norbayah said the students are involved in the entire process, from sowing to sales, including learning how to market their products and manage customer orders.
“This gives them a better understanding of how a business operates and helps build their confidence.”
She said the greenhouse vegetables could be purchased via a pre-order system.
“We usually begin promoting the vegetables about a week before harvest.
“Parents have been very supportive and we also receive orders from outside the school community,” she said, adding that the income generated was being channelled towards future crop cycles and related activities.
Yayasan Johor Corporation is sponsoring the greenhouse under its Smart Farming Greenhouse: Sustainable School – STEM Programme.
