| Universiti Putra Malaysia

UPM inks two Memoranda of Understanding on sustainable development

By Syifarida Muhamad Zaki

Photo by Noor Azreen Awang

 

SERDANG, May 15 - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Putrajaya Corporation and Tunas Nasional Holdings Sdn Bhd for the purpose of achieving sustainable development and cultivation of seasonal blooms.

Through the MoU with Putrajaya Corporation, UPM is set to expand its area of expertise and cooperation, involving the university’s Forestry Faculty, Agriculture Faculty and University Agriculture Park (TPU) as a continuation of cooperation from 2012 to 2016.

The collaborations, particularly in the field of horticulture, include floriculture,olericulture, homology and management of the nursery, Apiari, landscape management and maintenance, planning and urban design, environmental management, lakes and wetlands, development and urban services, urban agricultural activities, recreation and eco-tourism.

UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris said through the collaborations, UPM expertise could be expanded through sharing of information, knowledge, development and management of the landscape and the environment.

Under the MoU with Tunas Nasional Holdings Sdn Bhd, the company will be allowed to open a nursery on flower cultivation at UPM golf club, covering an area of more than 0.6 hectare.

Through the cooperation, UPM will engage 20 needy and poor students to prepare 150,000 polybags of seasonal flowers each month, and they will be monitored by University Agriculture Park and the Bursar.

"I believe that this cooperation can be further bolstered through strategic partnership where UPM expertise will be utilized to research and discover the variety of seasonal flowers that can be commercialized.

"This research should be undertaken as soon as possible in line with efforts by the Ministry of Federal Territories to beautify towns and urban folks through flower plantings like what is being done by Tunas Nasional Holdings now.

"This research by UPM and Tunas Nasional Holdings will be forwarded for use by government agencies," said Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini..

The event was officiated by Deputy Federal Territories Minister, Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan. - UPM.

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