UCSF Hydroponic Community Garden launched as community service initiative
KOTA KINABALU: A pioneering hydroponic community garden project was inaugurated at University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF).
The opening ceremony was led by Dr Rafiq Idris, the Vice Chancellor of UCSF, who expressed immense pride in the 15 students who spearheaded the project to educate and promote awareness of hydroponic planting techniques.
This initiative was driven by Mohd Wa’ie Aqwa, the project leader of the community service programme, under the guidance of Sharmimiee Hussain.
Both students and faculty members are aligned with Dr Rafiq’s vision to not only implement the project within the UCSF community but also extend its impact to communities in and around Sabah through University Social Responsibility (USR) initiatives and research projects at UCSF.
Mohd Wa’ie has outlined plans for expanding the community garden on a larger scale in the future.
The goal is to minimise the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation and reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers commonly used in large-scale industrial agriculture.
Noorashiqin Ahmad, the head of the Centre for Languages and Generic Development, expressed gratitude to the sponsor, Viktor Organic Sdn Bhd, for their support of the students’ endeavors and encouraged other institutions and organisations to engage with UCSF in collaborative efforts.
The community garden launch was well-attended by UCSF staff and students, along with members of neighbouring institutions who were enthusiastic about learning.
They were also provided with vegetable seeds to inspire them to start planting after gaining insights into hydroponics.