Hydroponics Offers Modern Farming Solution In Flood-prone Sri Kulim

KOTA BHARU, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- Frequent flooding in Kampung Sri Kulim, Melor in Padang Raja has not stopped residents from farming, thanks to the Projek Sejati MADANI initiative, which introduced hydroponics.

The RM100,000 project, launched in May with the support of the Kelantan Department of Agriculture, has already completed four harvest cycles, generating income for villagers.

Sri Kulim Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP) chairman Badrul Hisham Yaacob said the hydroponic system allows crops such as lettuce, spinach, water spinach, coriander and pak choy to grow on elevated, movable structures without soil, making them resilient to flooding.

Participants were trained in the automatic Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), which continuously delivers nutrient-rich water to keep the plants healthy.

Each harvest cycle, which takes around four weeks, produces 200 to 300 lettuce plants, some sold to chicken rice vendors, burger stalls and nearby farmers’ markets.

Profits are also channelled into the Sejati MADANI Community Fund to assist families during floods or emergencies, with 30 per cent of sales revenue contributed back to the community.

Encouraged by the project’s success, JPKKP plans to build two additional greenhouses to expand crop varieties such as fruit vegetables, including mini eggplants and cherry tomatoes.

Badrul Hisham noted that the initiative not only provides income but also strengthens local food security and supports the rural economy.

Housewife Bariah Yaacob, a project participant, said she never imagined growing crops without soil and now earns supplementary income while cultivating fresh, pesticide-free vegetables.

"I used to only plant flowers in my yard, but learning about hydroponics has been exciting because I can now grow fresh, pesticide-free vegetables that are quick to harvest," she said.

The hydroponic farm has also become a social hub, encouraging villagers to cooperate and actively maintain and expand the community’s farming efforts.

-- BERNAMA