When Norisa ‘Azuma Md Norazmi, Nurwardi Ariffin and Nur Salwana Kamidi graduate from IBTE Agro-Technology Campus at the end of this month, they’re unlikely to be joining the ranks of thousands of graduates who will be out hunting for a job.
The trio, part of IBTE’s first cohort HNTec in Agrotechnology have already registered their own company Agrometro, building and installing over 50 hydroponic systems across the country.
“We want to change the mindset that farming is extremely hard to do,” says Azuma, who at 30-years-old, has proved to be a natural leader as the eldest member of the team.
“And we believe we can help change this by helping the public embrace hydroponics because it’s one of the most efficient ways to farm.”
IBTE Agrotechnology teacher Muhammad Haikal Hakim Hj Latip said hydroponics – which allows crops to be grown without soil – was standard to their course, but said that Agrometro’s inception is unique because its founders chose to start their own business instead of doing the typical three-month industrial attachment.
Agrometro fabricates its structures using PVC pipes, which are then assembled at the customers’ site. Sprouts or seedlings are also provided, along with a water pump, fertilizers and a TDS meter to monitor nutrient concentration.