TAR UMT Students Win Big with Durian Farming Innovation at Tech 4 Good 2025

Their invention addresses the issue of crop loss in the local agriculture industry.

Published 11 Nov 2025

TAR UMT i-DOMAS Tech 4 Good Challenge 2025

Three students from Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) recently made waves at the Tech 4 Good Challenge 2025, taking home the top prize in the Agriculture track of the national competition. Held on 26 July at ViTrox Corporation Berhad, the annual event invites students from across the country to develop innovative STEM solutions to real-world challenges in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing.

The winning team, comprising Ch’ng Jun Ping, Kong Kit Weng and Lim Yek Chuan — all students of the Bachelor of Electronics Engineering Technology (Honours) programme — stood out with their creative solution to a problem faced by many local durian farmers. Their invention, named i-DOMAS, is a monitoring system that tackles the issue of premature fruit drops, which is a major source of crop loss in Malaysia. The team’s system is both affordable and practical for real-life usage, making it a promising tool for improving yields and reducing waste on farms. Their efforts earned them the first-place award, along with a RM3,000 cash prize. 

But the journey to the winner’s podium wasn’t without its challenges. One major hurdle was transporting their prototype, a scaled-down durian tree model fitted with sensors, to the competition venue. “We asked for our supervisor's help to borrow a lorry from TAR UMT,” the team explained. To protect the delicate model, they carefully disassembled it before transport and reassembled it on-site, showing impressive teamwork and attention to detail.

A big part of their success, they said, was thanks to the mentorship of their supervisor, Ts. Dr. Beh Chong You. “Rather than giving us direct answers, he challenged us with thought-provoking questions, which pushed us to think critically and innovate on our own,” the students shared. “It's safe to say that without his comprehensive support, we wouldn't have been able to overcome the complexities of our solution.”

The team now plans to use their prize money to further develop their i-DOMAS system and explore ways to bring it into real-world use. Their achievement is not only a proud moment for TAR UMT but also a strong example of how hands-on learning, teamwork and supportive mentorship can encourage students to create meaningful solutions that address real-life problems.

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    Amelia Ho

    Amelia Ho

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