BY JS KESHMINDER AND RASMUNA MAZWAN MUHAMMAD
ADDRESSING the vulnerability of the homeless with the increasing Covid-19 cases gave birth to Pusat Transformasi Anjung Kelana (PTAK). PTAK is a homeless shelter that accommodates around 70 people experiencing homelessness. PTAK uses urban farming as a medium to nurture farming skills and inculcate a positive attitude among the homeless. By establishing Kebun Bandar Hijrah Warrior (KBHW) farm, PTAK provides farming skills to homeless people.
The initiation of PTAK and KBHW is a collaborative effort between YB Tan Sri Anuar Musa, Agensi Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan (KWP), Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN) and Persatuan Kebajikan Golongan Asnaf dan Gelandangan Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor (KASGE).
[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”block” ihc_mb_who=”unreg” ihc_mb_template=”3″ ]The farm grows vegetables like cucumber, corn and mustard using conventional and fertigation farming technique. According to the centre’s coordinator, Encik Muhammad Haikal bin Zulkifli, 29, the farm requires more facilities and resources to provide total exposure to the homeless and attract their interest.
Based on his observation, when a small aquaponic technology was brought into the farm, the homeless were overjoyed and keenly interested in exploring it. Therefore, he feels that if the vacant space in PTAK occupies more urban farming technologies, it will boost the interest among the homeless to venture into farming. Since the significant hurdle to transforming the life’s of homeless people is their poor attitude.
Besides urban farming technologies, Haikal welcomes any input or collaborations that can assist the homeless to attain farming skills and generate some income.
KBHW plans to sell the farm products to generate income which will be used to sustain the farm and to provide some incentives to the homeless involved in the farming project. “We, the trainers at KHBW, constantly remind the homeless that via urban farming, they can generate income and have a better life ahead. Such emphasis is important to change their mindset and to favour farming,” said Haikal.
Urban farmers and urban farming input providers should visit KBHW and collaborate with them in transforming the lives of homeless people. Those interested to collaborate can contact Mr Haikal at 019-5147754.
NOTE: JS Keshminder, PhD is a Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Business and Management, UiTM.
Rasmuna Mazwan Muhammad Research Officer Socio-Economic Research, Market Intelligence and Agribusiness Centre (ES), MARDI.
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