KUALA LUMPUR: What started as a cost-saving measure for Norhasyimah Daud, 46, turned into a full-scale farming project for her family and the neighbourhood.
Today, the mother of four and other residents at the Seri Perlis 2 Public Housing in Keramat run their own farm at the mini flats compound, with more than 80 types of herb plants and vegetables for their daily consumption.
"My family and I love eating ulam (herbs). The problem is that in markets, they are normally sold in huge quantities, which would normally lead to waste. So, I decided to grow them using the roots of the herbs I bought.
"It slowly grew into a community effort in 2014 and today, we have some 50 active members under our neighbourhood farm committee who are in charge of different plots in the common areas around the flats.
"We sell the produce to the residents and the committee earns up to RM600 per month. Among the favourites are Brazil spinach and sawi," said Norhasyimah, who is the committee deputy chairman, as she showed off some of the plants at the flats.
She said apart from producing supplies for consumption, the project had brought the community together as many residents, including children, were exposed to simple farming activities like watering and harvesting the vegetables.
"Our farm is a community project under the Agriculture Department and Rukun Tetangga (under the National Unity and Integration Department). For public housing projects, we are required to get approval from the local government to use the communal areas. Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the departments have been supportive of our efforts."
The committee yesterday received a RM50,000 aid from the government under the Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana), which Norhasyimah said would be used to explore the potential of setting up a madu kelulut (stingless honey bee) farm in a vertical garden.
Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, who visited the community farm yesterday, presented the aid, along with stingless bee colonies, to the committee.
Kiandee said for individuals, RM500 cash aid was allocated under the urban farming programme.
"Some RM10 million is allocated by the government under this initiative to help ease the burden of the people in the urban and outskirt areas, by growing their own vegetables for consumption. Participants receive guidance from the Agriculture Department to set up and maintain their farm," he said, adding that some 800 communities and 12,000 people were set to benefit from the allocation.