Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) recently took part in the Cahaya Gamuda Project, an international joint University Social Responsibility (USR) initiative conducted in collaboration with Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Surabaya, Indonesia.
The project, which was to enhance the sustainable livelihood of poor and small-scale farmers in Kecamatan Gempol, Kabupaten Pasuruan, Jawa Timur, Indonesia, saw 14 UTP students develop and install a prototype called Smart Arduino Pest Control, utilising sensors and cameras to detect the presence of pests.
“The prototype employs sound frequencies that interfere with the pests’ hearing system, serving as a repellent and thus, eliminate the need for chemical-based pesticides and promoted sustainable pest management practices, thereby improving crop quality as well as increasing and sustaining farmers’ productivity,” UTP said in a statement here, today.
The statement added, in addition to their USR activities, UTP and UNAIR students organised a sustainability conference to enhance their knowledge and application of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture for the farmers in Kecamatan Gempol.
“Furthermore, the students held a cultural appreciation event to promote cultural exchange between the two countries, featuring performances by UTP Performing Arts Group (UPAG), UTP Gamelan Group Sanggar Kirana, and UNAIR Arts and Culture Group,” it read.
The USR project is a part of the Community Engagement Project, which falls under the MPU4 (General Studies) Committee of UTP’s Management and Humanities Department.
It aims to support the USR agenda and mobility programmes while providing students with a first-hand international experience in terms of culture, language, lifestyle, technology and challenges within the targeted community.
“UTP is dedicated to contributing towards the sustainability of its community through education and research.
“As a responsible institution, UTP advocates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, with both staff and students actively participating in various university social responsibility (USR) programmes for the community,” the statement read.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
