Date: 4/6/2015
Time: 2p.m.
Venue: Integrated Farm (Ladang 10)
Integrated Farming is a
whole farm management system, which enables the farmers to
identify opportunities and threats and act accordingly, and, at the same time,
consider consumer interests in their business. Integrated Farming is
not based on a set of fixed parameters but on informed management processes.
The integrated farm
in Universiti Putra Malaysia is situated at the opposite of Kolej Mohamad Rashid
and is labeled as ‘ladang 10’. This was the first time we had
our practical for agriculture and we were all very excited and enthusiastic. We
reached there at 2p.m. After taking some pictures with our classmates, the
instructors came and started to give us briefing about integrated farming.
The aim of integrated farming is
to deliver more sustainable
agriculture. It is a dynamic approach which can be applied to any
farming system around the world. Integrated farming combines the best of
modern tools and technologies with traditional practices according to a given
site and situation according to the instructor.
The advantage of integrated farming is
that high quality food,
feed, fibre and renewable energy are
produced by using resources such as soil, water, air and nature as well as
regulating factors to farm sustainably and with as little polluting inputs as
possible.
After explaining some basic information
about the integrated farm, the instructor brought us to visit the farm. First,
we visited the hydroponic part of the farm where cabbage is planted there.
Then, we went to the aquaculture part to see the fishes rear in the
integrated farm. The scenery was tremendously mesmerizing and captivating.
We enjoyed the scenery there and we were on top of the world.
After that, we went to the paddy field. We were asked to plow the paddy field using a plowing machine by the instructors. All of us must participate in this activity as the instructors wanted us to have experience in plotting the paddy field. We were very nervous and afraid at first but it was nevertheless an amazing experience for us. It was probably the first time for many of us to work in the paddy field but we had a whale of time working there.
We were glad that we had machine to ease our task as our ancestors had to do the job by using hoe. The machine can be controlled manually and had gears to determine the speed and reverse. It will turn to the right when we pressed the right pedal and turn left when we pressed the left pedal. The machine was like a large lawn mower. But the tyre of the machine was very special as it had a large surface area to reduce the pressure exerted onto the paddy field and avoid the machine from sinking. The main function of the machine is to plot, plow and remove the weeds from the paddy field.
The paddy field will be left for one week and then will be plotted again. Then, we can start to plant the seed in the paddy field. Our activity ended at 4.50p.m. Some of us left back to help to wash the machine and we were awarded a tin of soft drink each for helping the instructors to clean the machine. We thanked the instructors from the bottom of our heart.
We must be very grateful that we had enough food to eat every day and we should avoid wastage of food as it was a backbreaking activity to grow the paddy. We should be glad that we can have education today due to the hard work of our ancestors by working under the hot sun and in the mud to grow the paddy. Hence, we should appreciate the food we eat daily and the education opportunity given by our parents. 
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