NADI Programme Equips Farmer With Photography Skills For Extra Earnings

KAMPAR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- A durian farmer has discovered a new source of income through photography after undergoing training under the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) Mahir programme in Tualang Tekah, Malim Nawar here.

The online training, designed to equip participants with basic and advanced photography and videography skills using smartphones, has enabled Azrul Hisham Kamarudin, 47, to monetise his creative work.

He said the six-month course at NADI Tualang Tekah not only provided him with valuable knowledge but also opened up opportunities to generate side income by producing photos and videos, including for social media influencers.

“Previously, I only took photos for fun without knowing the proper techniques. Through the Mahir Foto classes, I learned about angles, lighting, creativity and editing,” he told Bernama.

“Now, I create photos or videos that I can sell, and I have even won a video competition using the skills I gained at NADI,” said Azrul Hisham, who now plans to develop photography into one of his main sources of livelihood.

He added that the training is practical and suitable for all age groups, including older individuals who wish to start a new career or earn part-time income.

“All we need is a smartphone, not an expensive camera. The important thing is knowing the techniques. When we post quality photos on social media, people appreciate them,” he said.

The training also covers the use of editing applications, digital content creation and basic social media marketing, which are vital for attracting attention and selling work online.

Photography training is part of the Entrepreneurship and Lifelong Learning pillar under the NADI Smart Services initiative, which aims to empower rural communities to become digitally literate and competitive in the modern economy.

Experienced trainers conduct the sessions in small groups, enabling participants to focus and better grasp the techniques.

Azrul Hisham also shared that he had attended agricultural training at the centre, where he learned ‘smart farming’ techniques such as using a smartphone to manage watering and fertilising crops.

“With smart farming, we don’t have to work hard, just work smart. This was all taught at NADI,” said the farmer, who also cultivates chillies, okra and tomatoes.

Beyond providing Internet access, NADI empowers communities through five main pillars under the Smart Services initiative introduced in July 2024, namely Entrepreneurship, Lifelong Learning, Self-Wellbeing, Awareness and Government Initiatives.

The Smart Services initiative is designed to ensure that every programme meets community needs effectively, creating meaningful impact in improving quality of life and driving overall societal progress.

-- BERNAMA