There is an aquaponic farm in Johor's capital where visitors can harvest vegetables for free. The upgraded Petrosains PlayFarm at Johor Public Library Corporation's (PPAJ) central library in Jalan Yahya Awal offers hands-on activities to learn about sustainable farming and environmental stewardship. Petrosains PlaySmart Johor Baru centre lead Muhd Al Awwab Che Ahmad said it combined fish rearing with vegetable cultivation in what is called a closed-loop ecosystem.
"There are around 150 red tilapia at the farm and more than 15 types of vegetables like corn, brinjal, pak choi, kangkung and herbs being grown.
"Waste produced by fish supplies nutrients to the plants. The plants in turn help filter and clean the water for the fish," he told StarMetro. He said the public could walk in for free to explore, learn basic modern farming techniques and even harvest the vegetables. "They can also take the vegetables home without charge but must visit the weighing station before leaving for data tracking."
The farm, which started in 2018, opened to the public in 2019. It closed temporarily for upgrading works. In early December last year it reopened with a refreshed look, with staff and volunteers to guide visitors.
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