12 careers

Engineeringmodernagriculture~~

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_~Agricultural engineers have a bigger role to play now that traditional farmingmethods are being integrated with technology. '

OUR world population is growing. We willneed more food, fibre, water, energy and 'other essentials.Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)Biologicaland Agricultural Engineering Departmenthead Dr Samsuzana Abd Aziz said there is aneed to have solutions that create a cleaner,safer, sustainable and better planet.

"We need watershed restoration, practice... pf efficient, low-impact technologies, biode-

gradable products, innovative food produc-tion systems, better handling of preciousharvests and improved waste water treat-ment arid reused systems," she said.

Sound like science fiction? Are thesethings even possible? Yes! It is possible

~thr0':l~h the work of agricultural engineers.Initially man used the hoe, theplough

and the beast in farming. Eventually, theneed to increase productivity and makingfarm work less arduous and more attrac-tive made man observe more closely plantmaterials, land, water and air in order toimprove the performance of the equip- ,ment used. This then led to an engineeringdiscipline especially for agriculture knownas agricultural engineering.

"Today, agricultural engineering reachesfar into every activity of agriculture andmodernises farming so that quality foodcan be produced sufficiently and continu-ously.

"Everyone needs food to live on," said, the lecturer who has spent the last eightyears at UPM producing Agricultural andBiosystems Engineers.

My job involves ...• in line with the aspiration of the coun-

try to empower -agriculture in order toensure the sustainability of food supply andthe generation of high income, my job is toensure that the programme in UPM runssmoothly in the course of producing agricul-

tutal engineers. My research activitiesmainly focus on agricultural and biosysternsinstrumentation, computational intelligenceand geographic information system. Morespecifically, it is the integration of artificialintelligence with geospatial system throughprogramming, the application of which,among others, are in the accurate place-ment and metering of fertilisers and in theautomatic control of agricultural inputs forefficient farming.

To qualify, you need ...• to become an agricultural engineer.

You need at least a bachelor's degree.Students can apply to do a Bachelor ofEngineering (Agricultural and Biosysterns)in UPM (the only university in Malaysia thatoffers the degree) or overseas. A master'sprogramme focuses on research, allowingthe student to develop an advanced under-standing of a particular aspect of agricultur-al engineering, which may allow for greateremployment opportunities within that spe-cialty. A master's degree presents moreopportunities for an individual to work in

Experts in themaking: UPM isthe only institu-tion in Malaysiawhich offers stu-dents a chance topursue an under-graduate engi-neering degree inagricultural and .biosystems.

more research-related positions in the fieldof agricultural engineering.

Prospects for the future ...• at the heart of modern farming is the

agricultural engineer whose roles aremany and varied. Farmers employ farm _machinery, equipment and modern fa-rm-ing methods developed by agriculturalengineers. The global demand for moresufficient and healthier foods, utilisation ofbio-based energy and cleaner environ-ments have 'only reinforced the importanceof agricultural engineering .The experts in this field are instrumental

in making farm work modern, safe andattractive, ensuring eco-friendly on- andoff-farm processing and searching for newuse of agricultural by-products and wastes.These activities, being the fundamentals ofmodern, safe and health conscious living,have wide-ranging ramifications for thejob market. Developing climate control sys- ,tems for enhanced animal comfort andgrowth, improving satellite applications forprecision farming in oil palm plantations

Increasing yield:Scientificresearchconducted byagricultural engi-neers enhancesagricultural prod-uct quality andquantity.Inset DrSamsuzana

Info Box:• In 1975, a bachelor level programmein agricultural engineering started in. Malaysia - at the Faculty of AgriculturalEngineering, Universiti Pertanian_Malaysia (now known as UniversitiPutra Malaysia), Serdang, Selangor. Athree-year diploma level programmewas introduced in 1980 to produce tech-nical assistants in the field followed notlong after that by the Master's and PhDprogrammes in 1982. "'--...__• The programme is now known as the-- '_'Bachelor of Engineering (Agriculturaland Biosystems) arid recognised by thePublic Service Department, theInstitution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM),Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)andthe Engineering Accreditation Council ofMalaysia (EAC).It is also recognisedinternationally by the WashingtonAccord. .• The Malaysian Society of AgriculturalEngineers (MSAE),formed in 1982, is aprofessional organisation whose mem-bers are actively involved in the applica-tion of engineering and technology inagriculture, food production and the uti-lisation of biological materials.

and increasing cooling efficiency and stor-age capacity of cold rooms for agriculturalproduce are a few examples.

I love my job because ...• I go home every day with the firm belief

that the work I do helps make the world abetter place.

What I dislike most about my job ...• being a lecturer who teaches one of the

most important disciplines in the world, it ishard think that in Malaysia, many are stillnot aware of the important roles of agricul-tural engineers.

Will I be a millionaire -by 30?• in the government sector, agricultural

engineers are paid based on the engineers'salary scale. The salary could be higher ifone is employed in the private sector todevelop a technology for commercialisation.The world can't feed the estimated 10 billioninhabitants in 2050. There is no doubt thatwe need agricultural engineers.

As Jim Rogers, investment whiz andbest-selling author said, "If you want tobecome rich, become a farmer." To which Imight add "not only a farmer but an engi-neer to the farmers." ,