Bintulu, September 3, 2018: Students Of Diploma in Agri Business, Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak Bintulu Campus (UPMKB) conducted a study tour to MARDI farm, Bintulu. A total of 47 DPNT students were accompanied by Dr. Shafinah Binti Kamarudin participated in this visit. At 7.30am, students gathered at Dataran C, Sri Rajang College, UPM to depart from UPMKB to Mardi-Bintulu Estate, KM 55, Bintulu, and Sarawak. This trip takes about an hour. The main purpose of the visit is to encourage active learning in the campus especially for the Man and Agriculture course (2008). Students can add knowledge about Malaysian agricultural practices and recognize the role of government agencies and directly in the empowerment of the agricultural sector.

Upon arrival at MARDI Farm, students were given brief briefings from MARDI officers, Mr Abu Bakar bin Abdul Hamid. He explained about the establishment of a station in MARDI, Bintulu which started operations in 2008. With a total area of 788 hectares, the MARDI operates a variety of crops such as corn, durian, liberal, oil palm, stevia and stingless bee honey. Some of the products will be sold to the public. Meanwhile, some MARDI outputs are used for research purposes.

After a brief briefing, students visit the leafy tree or even known as coffee plants. Students also have the opportunity to gather corn and see the corn grading process implemented by entrepreneurs. Corn species cultivated in MARDI Bintulu is sweet corn and corn ligo (less sweet). Students also have the opportunity to recognize D99 durian tree. According to Mr. Abu Bakar bin Abdul Hamid, this durian plant has a unique taste as the durian tree will produce flowers and fruit at the same time. The last visit of students is in the area of ​​stingless bee honey lot and explanation on how to produce honey and the benefits of honey are described. Stingless bee honey has 1001 benefits that can be used as a preventative medicine as well as cosmic products. Students also experience a new experience of enjoying the pleasure of a honeymoon in the honeymoon lot area. The closing ceremony was held briefly around 12.00 noon.

According to Damie's son Ukar, the director of the program stated that learning through study tours provides students with the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the agricultural sector in Malaysia and give new perspectives among students. Additionally, he hopes learning through a tour of learning can be implemented as one of the alternative learning courses for other courses.

Thank you and sincerely thank MARDI, Bintulu for their cooperation and commitment to make this program a success. Hopefully, networking efforts between universities and external agencies whether government or private can be supported and continued to empower the country's human capital.

Thank you

(Peserta Lawatan Sambil Belajar ke Ladang Mardi-Bintulu)



(Taklimat berkaitan MARDI Bintulu yang disampaikan oleh En.Abu Bakar Azman Bin Abdul Hamid)



(Madu kelulut)



(Peserta Berpeluang Mencuba Madu Kelulut)



(Penggredan jagung)

Date of Input: 14/09/2018 | Updated: 14/09/2018 | lanz