The Kumpulan Pengguna Air (KPA) Mawar is a group of farmers in Pahang Tua, Pekan, Pahang Malaysia, who were affected by floods and the destruction of their rice crops. The group consists of 90 rice farmers who suffered major losses due to the floods. The group's land is in the Langgar area, which has a total area of ​​more than 80 hectares. The Institute of Tropical Agriculture & Food Security (ITAFoS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has taken the initiative to assist the Mawar KPA by becoming an ITAFoS, UPM Adoption Village. The ITAFoS Adoption Village Program with the Mawar KPA is an initiative for the purpose of transferring knowledge to rice farmers and agencies to improve the effectiveness of rice management in the Kg. Langgar, Pekan, Pahang area in collaboration with IADA, Pekan to increase rice yields and income for rice farmers (Picture 1).

Picture 1. ITAFoS, UPM Adoption Village Program in collaboration with IADA Pekan, Pahang at KPA Mawar, Pekan, Pahang

This program was carried out throughout the year 2024-2025 with the support of the community and related agencies at IADA Pekan, Pahang. A total of 3 programs were successfully implemented, namely the Adoption Village Inauguration Program with the Member of Parliament for Pekan, the Knowledge Transfer Program Series 1 and the Knowledge Transfer Program Series 2 as well as the Closing Ceremony. The knowledge transfer program covers aspects of water management, Agro-ecological rice cultivation & diseases of rice plants (Picture 2).

Picture 2. Two ITAFoS Adoption Village programs, UPM in collaboration with IADA Pekan, Pahang which were implemented in 2024.

On 28 November 2025, the 2nd Series Knowledge Transfer Program and the Closing Ceremony of the ITAFoS Adoption Village, UPM focused on rice crop management and identifying crop diseases and pests to increase rice yields. The ceremony was further enlivened with an appreciation ceremony for all KPA Mawar Committee Members including its former leader, Hj Ibrahim Sulaiman and Mr. Khalil Idris, Former Director of IADA Pekan, Pahang or Chief Assistant Director, Plant Biosecurity Division, Kuantan, Pahang. Also present at the ceremony were the new Director of IADA Pekan, Mr. Emy Faizal Mohd Borham, Director of ITAFoS and Prof. Dr. Anjas Asmara Samsudin (Picture 3).

The closing ceremony went well, with both parties intending to continue the collaboration if opportunities and mechanisms exist that allow it to continue (Picture 4).

Date of Input: 10/12/2025 | Updated: 10/12/2025 | s_hasimah