Retired civil servant earns over RM7,000 monthly from Mersing fruit farm
MERSING, May 26 — The owner of an MD2 pineapple and banana plantation, which covers an area of 8.09 hectares on Jalan Pak Wan here, is aiming high to transform his enterprise, which has been running since 2021, into an agro-tourism hub.
Hanafiah Junid, 68, began when he received an initial capital of RM330,000 from the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) and used it for area clearing and planting until the harvest could be yielded.
The Mersing native said pineapple and banana crops, including “nangka”, “raja”, “kapas”, “nipah”, and “boyan” varieties, each covering an area of 4,045 hectares, are cultivated on land leased from the district office and the state government, with marketing efforts concentrated in the district.
“The response we received has been very encouraging, and we have obtained many requests, including from traders, schools, government agencies and royal institutions, given that there are no (commercial) operators here,” he told Bernama recently.
As for MD2 pineapples, Hanafiah, a retired civil servant, said they can be harvested within 14 months of planting and are planted in stages to avoid overstocking.
“For example, if we want 5,000 fruits, we will only fertilise according to that number,” he said, adding that he received further assistance, such as electric fences and fertiliser, from the Department of Agriculture, as well as seeds via the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board.
Hanafiah, who holds the Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices Certification Scheme (myGAP) and has only one employee, earns more than RM7,000 a month from the two crops.
He said the MD2 pineapples, which are grown on hilly mineral soils in the area, have received positive feedback from customers who find them sweeter.
“The estimated selling price for MD2 pineapples is about RM5 per unit while bananas are RM4 per kilogram, depending on size, type and grade,” said the father of four.
In addition to growing crops, he said two accommodation units are available at D’Farm Kabin for as little as RM120 per night, and the property also features attractions such as a fishing pond and deer and hedgehog farms.
Furthermore, he said he utilises the circular economy concept by recycling waste pineapple and banana peels as a food source for deer, thereby avoiding waste.
As for challenges, Hanafiah said he had suffered damage from wild animal disturbances, such as those caused by elephants, monkeys, and macaques, but was grateful to have received compensation totalling RM27,000 from the government last year.
“Alhamdulillah, the assistance can be used to cover losses by improving security aspects, namely repairing fences and installing solar lights,” he said.
He said he plans to develop a one-stop centre for agro-tourism and downstream products such as pineapple juice and tarts, but capital and manpower are immediate hurdles.
“I hope to be able to realise my dream and thus create job opportunities for the local community,” he added. — Bernama
المصدر: Malay Mail
