UMT helps the hearing-impaired generate income via Roselpreneur project

KUALA NERUS: The Roselpreneur project implemented by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) for the hearing-impaired community is anticipated to provide each participant with the opportunity to potentially earn up to RM1,000 monthly through roselle cultivation.

Roselpreneur project head Assoc Prof Dr Wan Zaliha Wan Sembok said the 2.03-hectare venture in Batu Buruk, Kuala Terengganu received sponsorship from Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia, an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti).

According to her, the project began last September involving 100 participants from the B40 group.

“All participants were given training and exposure to relevant knowledge, including nursery work, plant maintenance, harvesting techniques, and the production of various downstream products like jam, juice and ice cream.

“The number of hearingimpaired people registered with government and private organisations is very small, approximately 210. Therefore, we are taking this initiative to help them generate additional income and get out of poverty,” she said in a statement yesterday.

Zaliha said that in addition to the Roselpreneur project, UMT has undertaken various initiatives by planting crops such as Terengganu Sweet Melon, chilli, cucumber, okra, and strawberries in several locations in the state.

She said that the projects were implemented based on low-cost factors and aimed at generating promising returns.

“Over the last five years, we’ve been carrying out this knowledge transfer initiative, involving participants from a range of backgrounds, including the asnaf, single mothers, and individuals from the B40 group,” she said.