By : Siti Nur`Ain Feisal

Editor : Nik Hafzaini Nik Hassan 

SERDANG - Alumni Relations Centre has once again offered a priceless experience to Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) students through a high impact programme that is Megachili Project 2021 which was conducted throughout 2021.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, this long-postponed project has finally successfully accomplished by the participants.

The project in collaboration with Alumni Relations Centre (ARCUPM), residential colleges, Student Affairs Division, UPM Alumni Association, Centre of Entrepreneurial Development and Graduate Marketability, Faculty of Agriculture UPM, and Selangor Agriculture Department with the allocation of RM50,000.00 has produced a fruitful harvest.

Megachili project has fulfilled the HEPA Strategic Plan 2021 aspiration on Agricultural Sustainability. As the centre that plays a role in mobilizing alumni engagement activities, ARCUPM has always been in line with the university’s aspiration in strengthening alumni relations and networking by organising various programmes for alumni and alma mater to remain attached as well as supporting the eleventh Vice-Chancellor’s aspiration which is to engage alumni for university sustainability.  

The success of Megachili project 2021 especially at Sultan Alaeddin Suleiman Shah Residential College which has produced 23 Kg of chillies for the second harvest intrigued the university’s board of directors Chairman, YAM Tengku Syarif Laksamana Perlis Dato’ Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan Syed Putra Jamalullail to visit the crop site.  

During the visit, YAM Tengku Syarif Laksamana Perlis Dato’ Seri Diraja Syed Razlan expressed his undivided support for the activities and programmes involving students, residential colleges and UPM alumni. He is UPM alumni class of 1972 said it was time for the university to play an important role by producing and preparing UPM students with effective technology for these students to channel back the knowledge to the community or villagers and become the main food supply in the country.

“At UPM there are abundant sites that can be developed into students’ planting projects in line with the Vice-Chancellor’s aspiration that is, to lead in agriculture and become a development reference. Plenty of other projects can be executed in line with the said aspiration. Prior to agriculture projects held in this green campus, food security issues that emerged during crises or epidemics may be averted. Let this be a platform and do not be afraid to fail because success will follow afterwards.” He urged.   

The Principal of KOSASS, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Mursyid Arshad expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Alumni Relations Centre for inviting KOSASS to be part of this high impact project.

“It is such an immense honour to the Alumni Relations Centre for engaging our college in this pilot project. Meanwhile, the synergy has shown by the students, college fellow and staff also led to the success of this project. The collegiality between the youth and students shown is a strong commitment to boosting agriculture sustainability in this green campus.   

"The success of Megachilli Project should not stop here. This project should be intensified in the future with a few enhancements. Chilli and rockmelon are the signature crops in UPM, but there are few other plants that use fertigation technique like aubergine. In addition, cabbage and corn also have great potential and can be added to the students’ experience when graduating.   

"Megachili project 2021 led by ARCUPM is a good start in making agriculture an innovation in creating job opportunities as well as becoming an agro-entrepreneur. This pilot project also embraces the call of Al-Falah from the Tower of Knowledge as chanted by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Roslan Sulaiman,” he said.  

ARCUPM monitors this project closely and the Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arba’ie Sujud expressed his gratitude to all who have participated in the project.  

“Megachili is a collaboration project between ARCUPM, alumni, residential colleges, and Selangor Agriculture Department. This is among our efforts to ensure UPM as a university leading in agriculture for a continuous impact, knowledge and experience to UPM students not only in agriculture but other disciplines as well. Besides, agriculture project helps to train students in the hardship of this challenging profession,” he concluded.  

Five residential colleges at Serdang campus and Sri Rajang, Bintulu had taken on the challenge in this project, and KOSASS is the first to harvest three times. Each college has been given a one-off grant of RM5,000.00 and today they should be proud that their hard work has paid off.

Date of Input: 22/03/2022 | Updated: 24/03/2022 | suziana.wil