Pasir puteh: Agriculture, traditionally perceived as mere manual labor, has taken on a new significance for tahfiz students participating in the Academy in Industry (Akademi Dalam Industri or ADI) programme at Huffaz Agrofarm.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the hands-on agricultural experience has sparked an interest in farming among students like 17-year-old Wan Sirajul Fawwaz Wan Mohd Nordin. A Form Five student at Sekolah Menengah Integrasi Teras Islam (SMITI Tahfiz Tok Guru), Wan Sirajul Fawwaz had only casually engaged in planting seeds with his father before joining the programme. His experiences at the farm have not only nurtured his interest in agriculture but also demonstrated how practical skills can enhance his academic and religious studies.
Wan Sirajul Fawwaz shared his journey, expressing initial discomfort in handling a hoe but eventually finding enjoyment in the work. The programme taught him to prepare garden beds, plant and sow seeds, and use fertilisers. He, along with his peers, cultivated crops such as corn and cucumbers, gaining satisfaction from seeing the results of their labor. He noted that agriculture, viewed as a form of worship, complements his ambition to become a religious teacher.
For fellow student Wan Nur Khaleisah Wan Shamsul Ezreen, the programme highlighted the discipline and effort necessary for food production. Initially eager at the prospect of farming, she found the manual labor challenging yet rewarding. The experience taught her to balance time between agriculture training, school, and memorising the Quran. Her newfound appreciation for food production has shifted her perspective on agriculture as a viable career path.
The programme has also instilled confidence in participants, as Huffaz Agrofarm coordinator and trainer Mohd Zulkarnian Mohammad observed. Students without prior agricultural experience gained skills and confidence through step-by-step training. The aim, he explained, is not necessarily to steer students toward agricultural careers but to equip them with practical skills applicable across fields.
Most participants have continued their education through various academic pathways such as university, Form Six, and national exams like STAM and STPM. For Wan Sirajul Fawwaz and Wan Nur Khaleisah, the ADI programme has broadened their understanding of the interplay between skills, academics, and their religious education, offering valuable life lessons beyond the classroom.