Dato’ Mustapa Mohamed receiving a token of appreciation from Prof. Datuk Dr. Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah.

JELI, June 8 – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) assembled 19 of its experts from the many fields of agriculture in conjunction with the Hari Terbuka Bersama Pakar Pertanian UPM HTBPP (Open Day with UPM Agricultural Experts) at Jeli, Kelantan.

Project director, Prof. Dr. Musa Abu Hassan said amongst the UPM agricultural experts who shared expertise with the public were lecturers and researchers in soil mineralogy, insect toxicology, animal nutrition, plant physiology, and aquaculture/ marine nutrition.

“Other experts included those from the fields of anatomy and cytogenetics, agronomy, fertilization and land management, agro-biotechnology, apiculture, agro-marketing, farm management, food processing, fishery healthcare, and designing of food-processing machineries,” he said.

He also stated that the forums, clinics, demonstrations, agricultural exhibitions, briefings on study prospects in UPM, and the agro-based industry workshops held here had benefited the farmers, fishermen, agricultural agencies as well as the locals. This is in line with the event’s slogan, “From Garden of Knowledge to the Public”.

Dr. Musa who is the Deputy Director of the Center of Extension, Entrepreneurship and Professional Advancement (APEEC) UPM said the event opened a wide opportunity to its targeted participants to identify their problems in the agricultural field with the aid of these experts whom will then use these problems faced as a focus to research on.

“UPM was able to offer direct professional consultancy to the agricultural field, and have helped agricultural agencies by diagnosing problems collectively and to introduce outcomes of research and technology findings to the entrepreneurs in agriculture,” he said.

He added that public service programs as such was first launched on September 4, 2007 at Batu Pahat, Johor and the subsequent event was held at Pekan, Pahang on November 24 last year where UPM stood the chance to meet up directly with the public to help them overcome their problems through the many alternatives available.

Dr. Musa said the open day was organized in tandem with the launching of the Pusat Urusan Sehenti Perkhidmatan dan Informasi Agro Tani (PUSPA Tani) MoA Incorporated, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry which was the associate organizer of the two programs (PUSPA Tani and HTBPP) alongside UPM.

Dr. Musa said all agricultural agencies under the Ministry will be gathered under one hub through the PUSPA Tani Center so as to ease the public to obtain information, service and assistance.

“This center is equipped with ICT facilities and with all the relevant information appropriate with the public’s immediate needs,” he said when explaining about both programs which was officiated by the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry; Jeli parliament member, Dato’ Mustapha Mohamed on the same day.
UPM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah said UPM plans to develop a social laboratory in which the university will adopt the Jeli District as an area to carry out its developmental programs.

“Jeli will also be developed into a smart partnership area with UPM, where UPM will directly contribute to the agronomy and the community’s development in which Jeli will eventually become model to the country’s development,” he further added.

He said the developmental programme here will be continued with the organizing of a conference in agriculture development, the AGREX 08 which involves participations from neighboring countries and the ASEAN apart from national agricultural agencies.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry minister, Dato’ Mustapha Mohamed in his officiating speech said the opening of PUSPA Tani in the Jeli District is the first of its kind in Malaysia with aims of enhancing developments of agriculture where the locals of Jeli will be able to obtain consultations and other various information pertaining to agriculture here.

“This one-stop center will bridge the locals with agencies under the Agriculture Ministry in concordance with our efforts to develop the agriculture and agro-based industry sector, in line with the saying of agriculture as a business,” he added.

Apart from APEEC, other UPM bodies that contributed to the exhibition include the Faculty of Agriculture, the University Agricultural Park, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Food Technology, Agricultural Science Foundation Center and the Academic Division whilst demonstrations carried out included how to operate the food-processing machineries and also on the cultivation of grey oyster mushroom.

By Media Unit, Corporate Communication Division