A team of researchers from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has undertaken a project to help the deaf community generate an additional income.

Project leader Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr.Wan Zaliha Wan Sembok said the team had identified several potential projects to be carried out by target groups before the decision to involve the deaf community was made.

“In 2020, the number of disabled people registered with the Social Welfare Department was 581, 265. From the number, 6.3 percent was from the deaf category. The number of deaf people working in government agencies and private companies was 210, which was low.

“Therefore, an initiative was needed to help this group equip themselves with knowledge of agricultural technology that is easy to apply.

According to Dr. Wan Zaliha, the team decided that the best project for this group is roselle planting and roselle-based products.

“We conducted a knowledge transfer programme and organized a series of training to introduce the roselle planting project.

“The Roselprenuer project involves 100 people from the deaf community. If the project meets the target, we will consider having more deaf people registered in Terengganu join the project.

“We teach them how to set up the nursery, maintain the plants, harvest the roselle, and create roselle-based products, such as juice, jam, and ice-cream.

Dr Zaliha said the project is funded by Malaysia Innovation Foundation, Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) and is expected to provide a return of RM1,000 a month.

“The project was introduced to the deaf community in September 2023 and the selection of participants was done based on their ability to complete the project.

She said the team has conducted knowledge transfer programmes like this one for more than five years for several groups including the poor community, single mothers, and the B40 group.

“Some of the programmes included the fertilizer project, the sweet melon project, the vegetable farming project, and the strawberry project. In addition, the urban farming project has provided the deaf community with a good income, enabling them to be self-reliant.   

“We hope the knowledge transfer programmes conducted by the university for the community will give them a new hope and motivation to escape poverty and improve their quality of life,” Dr Zaliha said.

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Corporate Communications Office

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu