THE hydroponic vegetable cultivation project in Air Putih is entering its second phase, with an additional RM42,000 allocated for equipment to increase annual production tenfold from 500kg to 5,000kg.
The expansion aims to strengthen local food security while encouraging greater community participation in urban farming.
The project, based at the Urban Agricultural Site in Air Itam, was highlighted by Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng following the recently concluded State Legislative Assembly sitting as an example of how government support can help boost community-based food production.
Lim said the initiative could serve as a model for similar urban farming projects across Penang.
“With government support, I believe this hydroponic garden can serve as a model for the entire state of Penang. This isn’t a private commercial venture; it operates differently, but it is a successful initiative driven by a government-linked body,” he said.
He said Phase 2 would involve expanding the existing facilities and acquiring additional equipment.
“We’ve secured funding from the MPPP for Phase 2, which will allow us to expand. We also need another RM42,000 for the equipment and other requirements needed for the second phase,” Lim said.
He added that the initiative had gone through four rounds of implementation, with the progress made paving the way for further expansion.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve carried out this initiative. This is actually the fourth time. Now that the project has proven successful, we are planning for a second phase. If it continues to do well, we might even move on to a third phase in the future,” he said.
Also present was Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid, who said the initiative could empower local community management councils (MPKK) and encourage grassroots participation in sustainable food production.
“Essentially, the concept of urban farming is an initiative that, God willing, can assist the local community management councils (MPKK) and, at the same time, help address food security issues,” she said.
Syerleena announced that the Bukit Bendera parliamentary constituency would allocate RM42,000 for equipment to support Phase 2.
“Regarding the second phase, I would like to share that, through the allocation from the Bukit Bendera Parliamentary constituency, we will be providing RM42,000 for equipment to be used in this second phase,” she said.
With the additional equipment, the project aims to raise annual vegetable production to 5,000kg, while promoting urban farming as a way to strengthen Penang’s local food supply and encourage community involvement.
Story by Ammar Mikhail Aamer