The number of disabled individuals who registered with the Department of Social Welfare in 2017 was 453,258. From the total, 7.6% were deaf individuals. Currently, the number of deaf individuals working in government organizations and private companies is low. Most disabled individuals in Malaysia receive special education and vocational education. They are more positive-minded and more focused with work compared to normal people. However, they have not been given equal consideration in the open job market and thus have experienced difficulty finding employment. Deaf individuals should not be neglected. Hence, two researchers from UMT took an initiative to help this group improve their quality of life by showing them how knowledge and technology in agriculture can be explored and utilized to generate side income. One technology is fertigation, a method of farming that does not use soil as rooting medium and uses inorganic fertilizers that are injected into irrigation system. Instead of soil, coconut husks are used as substitutes to keep the minerals and nutrients from the irrigation. Among the examples of soilless technology are hydroponic, aquaponic and nutrient film technique (NFT). Fertigation technique has been proven to benefit vegetable crops and fruit crops. The term fertigation is derived from two English words, fertilizer and irrigation. With this technique, fertilization and irrigation are carried out simultaneously. Fertigation is an alternative farming method for preventing underground-related diseases that reduce and damage crops. Among successful crops are chilies, ground cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, Terengganu sweet melons, and rock melons.

Seeing the potential of the fertigation technique for generating income, UMT researchers Dr Wan Zaliha Wan Sembok and Assoc. Prof. Dr Wahizatul Afzan Azmi have begun a knowledge transfer programme called Silent Planters for the deaf community since July 2020. The programme is funded by UMT Knowledge and Technology Assimilation Grant Scheme (KTAG2020) totaling RM8000.00. The two researchers believe that the programme can provide a positive impact to the deaf community. In addition, the programme can help to ensure the availability of food sources amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the programme, the two researchers have been able to share with members of the Terengganu Society of the Deaf (POPT) a few creative innovations from their research that can help increase the production of Terengganu sweet melons and ground cherry tomatoes. They have exposed 25 deaf individuals to fertigation system, new farming media, and stingless bee pollination technique.

Plant growing medium used in fertigation system is processed coconut fibre called cocopeat. Because cocopeat has become costlier, biochar or black charcoal was introduced to reduce dependence on cocopeat. Black charcoal is produced through incomplete burning (without oxygen or with low level of oxygen) known as pyrolysis technique. It has become popular as an alternative material for soil amendment. Black charcoal can be produced by burning agriculture wastes such as sugarcane bagasse, coconut husks, rice husk, and coconut waste as well as reared animal wastes such as sparrow droppings. Black charcoal is also combined with useful microbes such as mikoriza that can hold water and fertilizer, reduce the loss of water through evaporation, and improve soil quality. Based on the research by Dr Wan Zaliha and her student, black charcoal that is combined with foliar fertilizer high in hormone content like auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin and seaweed extract can increase crop yields. Biofertilizers and black charcoal can be sources of additional income for deaf individuals. Stingless bee pollination technique has been shown to produce high quality Terengganu sweet melons. This technique was developed by Assoc. Prof. Dr Wahizatul Afzan and her student. Honey produced by stingless bees can be sold to provide additional income to these deaf individuals.

Improper postharvest handling of fruit yields will affect the quality of the fruits. Therefore, the deaf community will be taught the proper postharvest techniques. The Movement Control Order that has started since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the sale of fruits, but with proper and effective postharvest technology, the fruits can be kept fresh. Proper temperature for storing the fruits and the right packaging technique will extend the freshness. Effective postharvest technology can ensure continued availability of food sources.

According to POPT President Tg Arman Haris Tg Ismail, the knowledge transfer programme by UMT is the first of such programme specifically organized for the deaf community in Malaysia. He thanked UMT for the opportunity and said that the programme’s success will motivate the deaf communities in other states to also venture into agriculture. He also said that POPT tends to increase the number of Terengganu sweet melon plants in polybags from 250 to 1000 and build plant shelters. The process of applying for fund from the state to expand the existing planting area is in progress. He said that Terengganu sweet melons will be ready for harvest in mid-October and ground cherry tomatoes in mid-November.

The Silent Planters programme is capable of helping the deaf communities develop their positive personalities and subsequently improve their economy. More importantly, these individuals can prove to the public that they can compete in the field of agriculture.

For further information:

Dr Wan Zaliha Wan Sembok
Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science
Email: wzaliha@umt.edu.my
Tel: 09-6684981/019-9885218

Published by:

Corporate Communication Centre
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu