MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Tenom Producing Successful Farmers And Breeders
Tenom Producing Successful Farmers And Breeders
21/11/2014 (Bernama) - Ten years have passed since Tham Yan Siong, 48, started a farming business that is today worth RM2 million.
In 2004, the Tenom-born decided to use the money he had saved up for the downpayment of a new car to buy six goats. At the time, he had just returned to Tenom after staying overseas for nearly two decades.
Today, the Tenom-born is rearing goats and farming fruits at the Tenom Agro Paradise integrated farm in Ladang Batu 10, Jalan Kemabong.
Besides a block dedicated for goat rearing, the 16-hectare farm also grows fruit crops and oil palm, processes organic fertiliser and runs a "Farm Stay" programme.
STATE SUPPORT
The former accountant did not regret going into farming in Tenom, a land regarded as an agricultural goldmine for many.
Today he owns over 300 Jamnapari and Boer breed of goats, which he bought from Australia.
"I am proud of my success in goat rearing on this farm. It was a hard-won success, filled with sweat and tears," he told Bernama when met at his farm here, recently.
Tham had received encouragement to venture into the field from Tenom MP, Datuk Raimee Unggi and a contribution of 200 goats from the Tenom Agricultural Development Council.
The council acts as a catalyst to encourage smalltime farmers and breeders to become entrepreneurs.
Today, Tham's gross income is about RM20,000 a month.
He believed that Tenom, which comprises the sub-districts Kemabong and Melalap, had the promising potential of being developed into an area growing the country's agricultural needs.
FARMING AND REARING TRAINING
Tham employs six workers to care for his Jamnapari and Boer goats, as well as crossbreeds between the two.
He is hoping to expand his goat-rearing business to meet overseas demands in the future, as well as make Agro-Tourism one of district's tourism products.
To achieve this, he is availing his farm for the state to open a training centre so that interested breeders, especially among the younger generation, could come and learn the methods of goat-rearing.
"If the government can provide for us a grant to build the centre, I can become the facilitator and help produce more successful breeders," he said.
Today, Tham is selling 12 to 15 live goats a month at a price of between RM600 and RM800 a goat.
Besides rearing goats, he also produces organic fertiliser from their manure. He also grows oil palm and fruits like pomelo.
Tham has won several awards, including "Usahawan Penternak Jaya Ruminan" and "Anugerah Sub-Sektor Penternakan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Haiwan dan Perusahaan Ternak" in conjunction with the 2011 state level celebration of "Hari Peladang, Penternak dan Nelayan".
OTHER SUCCESS STORIES
Besides Tham, Chung Fui Lan, 69, and her husband Voo Tan Vun, 73, are also among the farmers who have successfully marketed their produce overseas.
After 15 years in the field, the couple now owns a collection centre under the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry's High Impact Programme as well as a myGAP (Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices) certification from the ministry.
"I initially only planted five guava trees for my own consumption. Upon the advice of friends, I joined courses and seminars on large-scale farming before venturing into the field," Chung said, when met at her farm in Kampung Enubai, here.
Chung said guava trees thrived in the sub-climate of Tenom, and were hardy enough to withstand droughts and infertile soil.
Her farm grows seedless and seeded guava, which are ready for harvest around nine months after planting. Some 10 tonnes of guava is harvested annually, bringing in an income of between RM20,000 to RM30,000 for the period.
Chung has been recognised as "Usahawan Tani" in 2009 and won second place in The Best Farming Practices and Harvest Competition during the state level "Hari Peladang, Penternak dan Nelayan" celebration in 2005.
In 2004, the Tenom-born decided to use the money he had saved up for the downpayment of a new car to buy six goats. At the time, he had just returned to Tenom after staying overseas for nearly two decades.
Today, the Tenom-born is rearing goats and farming fruits at the Tenom Agro Paradise integrated farm in Ladang Batu 10, Jalan Kemabong.
Besides a block dedicated for goat rearing, the 16-hectare farm also grows fruit crops and oil palm, processes organic fertiliser and runs a "Farm Stay" programme.
STATE SUPPORT
The former accountant did not regret going into farming in Tenom, a land regarded as an agricultural goldmine for many.
Today he owns over 300 Jamnapari and Boer breed of goats, which he bought from Australia.
"I am proud of my success in goat rearing on this farm. It was a hard-won success, filled with sweat and tears," he told Bernama when met at his farm here, recently.
Tham had received encouragement to venture into the field from Tenom MP, Datuk Raimee Unggi and a contribution of 200 goats from the Tenom Agricultural Development Council.
The council acts as a catalyst to encourage smalltime farmers and breeders to become entrepreneurs.
Today, Tham's gross income is about RM20,000 a month.
He believed that Tenom, which comprises the sub-districts Kemabong and Melalap, had the promising potential of being developed into an area growing the country's agricultural needs.
FARMING AND REARING TRAINING
Tham employs six workers to care for his Jamnapari and Boer goats, as well as crossbreeds between the two.
He is hoping to expand his goat-rearing business to meet overseas demands in the future, as well as make Agro-Tourism one of district's tourism products.
To achieve this, he is availing his farm for the state to open a training centre so that interested breeders, especially among the younger generation, could come and learn the methods of goat-rearing.
"If the government can provide for us a grant to build the centre, I can become the facilitator and help produce more successful breeders," he said.
Today, Tham is selling 12 to 15 live goats a month at a price of between RM600 and RM800 a goat.
Besides rearing goats, he also produces organic fertiliser from their manure. He also grows oil palm and fruits like pomelo.
Tham has won several awards, including "Usahawan Penternak Jaya Ruminan" and "Anugerah Sub-Sektor Penternakan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Haiwan dan Perusahaan Ternak" in conjunction with the 2011 state level celebration of "Hari Peladang, Penternak dan Nelayan".
OTHER SUCCESS STORIES
Besides Tham, Chung Fui Lan, 69, and her husband Voo Tan Vun, 73, are also among the farmers who have successfully marketed their produce overseas.
After 15 years in the field, the couple now owns a collection centre under the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry's High Impact Programme as well as a myGAP (Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices) certification from the ministry.
"I initially only planted five guava trees for my own consumption. Upon the advice of friends, I joined courses and seminars on large-scale farming before venturing into the field," Chung said, when met at her farm in Kampung Enubai, here.
Chung said guava trees thrived in the sub-climate of Tenom, and were hardy enough to withstand droughts and infertile soil.
Her farm grows seedless and seeded guava, which are ready for harvest around nine months after planting. Some 10 tonnes of guava is harvested annually, bringing in an income of between RM20,000 to RM30,000 for the period.
Chung has been recognised as "Usahawan Tani" in 2009 and won second place in The Best Farming Practices and Harvest Competition during the state level "Hari Peladang, Penternak dan Nelayan" celebration in 2005.