Azlan Othman
Agricultural production through hydroponic is well suited to be emulated even on a small scale at home, and may inspire the desire to make it a successful agricultural endeavour.
The Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB), with its Asnaf Zakat Empowerment Programme (PROPAZ), is ready to consider capital assistance for ‘One School, One Farm’ agricultural project to those wanting to raise the standard of living for themselves and their families.
Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman said this at the launch of the ‘One School, One Farm’ Project at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Girls Arabic Religious Secondary School (SUAMPRIPAHS) yesterday.
The minister said the project can be made successful by students, especially zakat recipients.
The minister hoped that the group of Executive Development Programme for Middle Management Officers (EDPMMO) participants, curated the project with stakeholders will see the possibility of working with SUAMPRIPAHS and other schools to continue similar projects.
The project was launched by 32nd EDPMMO programme participants in collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD).
Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin handed over five hydroponic sets to SUAMPRIPAHS.
The project aims to educate students on sustainable agriculture, in line with the global call to realise the sustainable development goals, especially in food security. The project is also a starting point to realise the ‘One School, One Farm’ programme in promoting a sustainable lifestyle, in line with the principles of Maqasid Syariah (Objectives of Law) and instilling interest among students in entrepreneurship to support the Brunei Vision 2035 goals.
Twenty SUAMPRIPAHS students have been chosen to undergo training for six months as a co-curricular activity.
The launch also featured information sharing sessions and demonstrations on sustainable agriculture using used materials from IBTE students.
Islamic Studies Department and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) senior officials were also present.
