PAPAR: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is helping strengthen community food security and create additional income opportunities through an integrated aquaculture project in Kampung Kinolosodon, Kimanis.
The Community Food Security Empowerment through Integrated Aquaculture Project, implemented recently by the UMS Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI), combines fish and freshwater prawn farming with vegetable production in a single food production system.
The project, funded under UniMADANI (UniMD040), involves the farming of tilapia and giant freshwater prawns, alongside vegetables including pak choy and lettuce.
UMS said the initiative was designed not only to provide a source of food for the local community, but also to equip residents with the knowledge and skills to produce food systematically and potentially generate additional income by selling surplus produce.
The project was launched by UMS Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Hj Mansor, who was represented by BMRI Dean Associate Professor Dr Ching Fui Fui @ Faihana Ching Abdullah.
Kasim said the integrated aquaculture system optimised the use of space and resources by combining aquatic farming with vegetable cultivation.
He said aquaponics and hydroponics technologies also allowed food to be produced sustainably, with the different components complementing one another.
“UMS’ approach through this project is not merely to provide one-off assistance. We want knowledge and technology transfer to take place so that the community has the capacity to continue the project and become more competitive,” he said.
He said knowledge transfer, training, guidance and continued technical support from UMS researchers were important to ensure the community could eventually manage the system independently.
“The produce obtained can not only meet the domestic needs of residents, but surplus produce also has the potential to be marketed as an additional source of income for the D'Sosondoton community.
“True success will be when this project continues to operate and provides benefits beyond its original funding period,” he said.
Meanwhile, Faihana said UMS hoped Kampung Kinolosodon could become a model for other villages in Papar and Sabah to adopt food production approaches that combine technology, academic knowledge and community strengths.
She said the project reflected UMS’ University for Society approach by bringing the university’s expertise, knowledge and technology beyond the campus for the benefit of communities.
“This project directly translates the University for Society concept by bringing UMS expertise, knowledge and technology out of the campus for the benefit of the community, particularly in addressing food security challenges and rural socio-economic development,” she said.
She said the collaboration between UMS, the Sabah Fisheries Department and the local community demonstrated an integrated approach involving academia, government agencies and residents in developing solutions suited to local needs.
The initiative has the potential to strengthen community resilience by increasing local food production, reducing dependence on external supplies and creating economic opportunities through agriculture and aquaculture.
Also present were representatives of the Sabah Fisheries Department's Marine Aquaculture Development Division, Anathasia Marcus; UMS Centre for Sustainability and Community Engagement director Associate Professor Ts Dr Ag Sufiyan Abd Hamid; BMRI Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation Associate Professor Dr Mohamad Tamrin Mohd Lal; Aquaculture Research Centre director Associate Professor Dr Annita Yong Seok Kian; and Kampung Kinolosodon JPKK chairman Bonyface Benjamin.
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