Month: July 2024

In an effort to boost the economy and foster entrepreneurship among thernB40 group at Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Jawa (SKPJ), a smart solar-powered aquaponic system has been created to meet the government’s goal of doubling agricultural productivity through food production by 2030. With low incomes and rising costs of raw materials, including fish and vegetables, the B40 community at SKPJ is significantly burdened. Associate Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Suzi Seroja Sarnin, Ir. Dr. Wan Norsyafizan W. Mohamad, and final semester students from School or Electrical Engineering, UiTM, have worked together to develop this smart solar-powered aquaponic system, providing an effective solution to maintain the raw material supply chain. The headmaster of SKPJ, Mr. Salahuddin bin Nayan, along with the teachers, played a key role in the project’s success.

This innovative agricultural technique combines aquaculture with hydroponics and includes a monitoring system for water quality, fish and vegetable growth, automatic fish feeders, and water quantity control in fish tanks. Nutrient-rich water from the fish tanks is channeled to the plants and then returned to the fish tanks. The primary advantage of this system is its efficient water use, utilizing harvested rainwater and ensuring environmental sustainability. In addition to transferring agricultural technology to students, they are also trained to create platforms to market agricultural products digitally and analyze profits from the system. Aligned with the sustainability agenda and government direction, this project ensures local food security in line with Sustainable Development Goal 2, “Zero Hunger”. This smart agricultural innovation has a significant impact on income-generating opportunities and job self-sufficiency in food production, boosting the rural economy, particularly for the B40 groups.

The development of this system involves collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Fisheries in Selangor. The Fisheries Department provides fish fry as initial seeds and expertise in fish care and water quality management, while the Agriculture Department supplies vegetable seeds and hydroponic system care methods. This cooperation is essential to achieving collaborative knowledge transfer to the target group and leveraging agricultural technology expertise to drive the B40 group\’s economy.

Income generation through the aquaponic system includes three aspects: sales of aquaculture products, sales of hydroponic products, and sales of preserved fish products. Marketing of agricultural products can be done in various ways and through different channels, such as independently or through wholesalers or retailers. Hydroponic crops can be harvested once they reach the desired maturity level, typically in the fourth or fifth week, for vegetables like spinach, mustard greens, and lettuce. Aquaculture product marketing can be conducted using live sales, fresh sales, and frozen sales methods.

This project can significantly impact B40 students at SKPJ. Besides driving the economy of this group, the project provides early exposure to students to biology within the ecosystem, recognizing technology in agriculture, fish and plant cultivation methods in a closed-loop system, IoT technology, and more. The project offers students experience working on group science projects and early exposure to entrepreneurship and small-scale farming. The fish and vegetable yields can be supplied to hostels as a source of healthy and fresh food.

Moreover, the project promotes a green technology culture within the school community, as the aquaponic system produces healthy food and positively impacts the environment. Considering the government\’s goal to make Malaysia a carbon-neutral country by 2050, this project shows the university and school’s commitment to driving the nation toward food sustainability and eco-friendliness. It raises public awareness and encourages the use of green technology by incorporating solar panels as an energy source. It is hoped that such projects can be introduced to other schools, extending the objectives, benefits, and advantages to school cooperatives.

The smart aquaponic system designed at the school has great potential to contribute to the vision of zero hunger. Through this approach, the school promotes holistic education and practical basics and plays an active role in developing food sustainability within the community. The smart aquaponic system provides practical and comprehensive education about modern agriculture by learning how to plan, manage, and maintain the aquaponic system with the help of IoT technology. Thus, the smart aquaponic system at school is an investment in future education and a practical step towards achieving the goal of “zero hunger” globally. This is a tangible example of how education, technological innovation, and environmental awareness can collaborate to create positive change in our society.

On 16 July 2024, Ir Dr. Nani Fadzlina Naim, a distinguished lecturer and researcher from the School of Electrical Engineering at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia, had the opportunity to share her insights on the topic “Optical Communication in Daily Life” through a special broadcast on Universiti Teknologi MARA’s UFM radio station, which transmits on the 93.6 MHz frequency.

During the engaging one-hour session, Dr. Nani Fadzlina delved into the various applications of optical communication technology that many might encounter in their daily routines. She highlighted how optical communication, which utilizes light to transmit information, plays a crucial role in modern telecommunications, including internet connectivity, medical imaging, and advanced security systems. The talk aimed to make listeners aware of the often-overlooked technological backbone that supports many conveniences of contemporary life.

Dr. Nani Fadzlina also emphasized the importance of optical communication in the development of smart cities, where high-speed and reliable data transmission is vital for efficient management and operation. She shared insights on how this technology enhances our ability to communicate quickly and effectively, thereby impacting sectors such as education, healthcare, and transportation.

The session was skillfully moderated by DJ Fiza, who facilitated a lively discussion and ensured that complex concepts were broken down into easily understandable segments for the audience. This talk was part of UFM’s ongoing effort to bring educational content to the community, highlighting the advancements and research being conducted at UiTM. It served as a platform to bridge the gap between academia and the public, showcasing how research in electrical engineering and optical communication directly benefits society.

A community program based on Service-Learning Malaysia University to Society (SULAM) which highlights the title “Empowering School Students with Smart IoT Aquaponic System”, was successfully held on June 14, 2024, at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Pantai, Kuala Lumpur. This program is conducted in school to meet the requirements of SULAM where students need to engage directly with the community to make a meaningful and relevant contribution. The target community is among the B40 group school students of SMK Seri Pantai. In this program, facilitators from the School of Electrical Engineering (PKE), College of Engineering at UiTM introduced and taught school students about a smart aquaponic system utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

The smart aquaponic system with IoT monitoring combines fish farming and soil-less plant cultivation with advanced technology. The Internet of Things (IoT) sensors monitor crucial parameters such as temperature, PH, ammonia level, and light intensity in real time, send data to the cloud, and automatically control equipment. Users receive notifications if conditions are abnormal, and data analysis aids effective maintenance. This system enhances productivity and sustainability by optimizing resource use and reducing waste, while also supporting environmental sustainability through lower water usage and reduced carbon footprint, making it suitable for urban agriculture.

This program aims not only to impart knowledge but also to inspire school students to develop a greater interest in science and technology, especially in practical applications that can positively impact the community and the environment. Through hands-on activities and interactive sessions, the school students could see the significant potential of IoT technology in improving their daily lives.

This system is highly relevant and aligns with several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG 2: Zero Hunger by increasing sustainable and high-quality food production. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation are achieved through efficient water recycling, reducing water usage. The system also meets SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by promoting efficient resource use and waste reduction. Lastly, it contributes to SDG 13: Climate Action by reducing the carbon footprint through the use of green technology and eco-friendly farming practices.

At the end of the program, an evaluation and reflection session are held where students share the experiences and knowledge they have gained throughout the program. The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive, with many students expressing an interest in delving into STEM fields and IoT technology. UiTM also handed over a prototype of an IoT-based smart aquaponic system to the school as a sign of cooperation.