Besides environmental sustainability, a community garden is able to promote the muhibbah (goodwill) spirit among people in the city.
Executive Councillor for Domestic Trade, Consumer Affairs, National Integration and Civil Society, Dato’ Yunus Jamahri said the gardening effort has been trending among city communities since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as people adapt their lives to the new normal.
“The price hike of items including vegetables in the market was due to the pandemic. Thus, throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO), the community had made use of the time they had to farm.
“Even though we are now entering the endemic phase, the habit of gardening instilled since the MCO continues to be the new practice that can save daily expenses and bring health benefits.
“The effort done by Persatuan Rakan Kinta Perak indirectly contributes to environmental sustainability via conservation and preservation of the environment,” he said during the launch of the community garden of Desa Tambun Indah yesterday.
Present were Director of Ministry of Domestic Trade And Consumer Affairs Perak (KPDNHEP), Saifullizan Kamarul Zaman; Chairperson of Persatuan Rakan Prihatin Kinta, Dr Richard Ng; Ipoh City Council’s (MBI) Council Member for Zone 2 (Hulu Kinta), Puteri Holijah Muhamad Rali and Director of Town Planning of the MBI, Mohd Zainal Abdul Hamid.
Dr Richard, who is also the MBI Council Member for Zone 14, stated that the community garden opens opportunities for people of all ethnicities to farm using abandoned government land and share its produce with all.
“The community garden also ensures a safe and healthy food quality. The plants are free from insecticide spray and organic fertiliser is used. It is in line with the celebration of the national Consumer Rights Day every year in March.
“I hope this community garden can serve as an example to other local communities to make use of gardening as a hobby for healthier lives and to retain environmental sustainability,” he added.
Rosli Mansor
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