As the cost of living continues to rise, an increasing number of Malaysians are turning to side ventures to boost their income — including one Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) employee who found promise in agriculture.
While others turn to gig economy jobs for extra income, 40-year-old Khairul Azwan Mohamad Hasbor chose agriculture — a field he has pursued since 2019.
Born and bred in Sungai Besar, Selangor, Khairul Azwan began with crops like bitter gourd, okra, bottle gourd, ridge gourd, water spinach, spinach, eggplant, and chilly.
In October last year, he ventured into ginger cultivation — a move that proved worthwhile when his first harvest last month delivered impressive returns.
ASSISTANCE FROM AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
Operating his farm in Kampung Sungai Panjang, Sungai Besar, Khairul Azwan said he prepared for his ginger farming venture by attending a three-day course organised by the Crop Industry Development Division at the Serdang Agricultural Complex last October.
"I also gathered knowledge from Google and YouTube, and visited the farms of friends experienced in ginger cultivation to learn from their hands-on insights," he told Bernama recently.
"Honestly, I had no prior experience in planting ginger, so I sought guidance from the Sabak Bernam District Agriculture Office. They provided significant support, especially with funding — I simply put the plan into action," he added.
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He explained that he allocated 2.4 hectares of land for the project, although only 0.4 hectares were used in the initial phase.
“I planted about 10,000 ginger plants,” he said, noting that he cultivated Thai ginger, which is in high demand locally.
According to Khairul Azwan, the waiting time for harvest is relatively short.
"Young ginger can be harvested after three to four months, while mature ginger typically takes about seven to eight months after planting," he said.
SATISFACTION
Khairul Azwan shared that, following the successful results of his first harvest recently, he plans to expand his cultivation area in the near future.
“The first harvest was of young ginger, which I sold to wholesalers and also at the nearby wholesale market.
"There is strong demand for young ginger, with prices ranging from RM7 to RM10 per kilogramme. Seeing the ginger harvest for the first time from my own efforts, I feel a deep sense of satisfaction and pride," said Khairul Azwan, who is assisted by two workers.
Regarding the challenges of ginger farming, the father of two said his biggest concern is bacterial infections attacking the plants.
"My routine includes spraying insecticide two to three times a week,” he said.
Despite enduring the heat and getting his hands dirty, Khairul Azwan is grateful for the unwavering support from his family and friends, as well as the assistance and guidance from the staff at the Sabak Bernam Agriculture Department.
GINGER'S POTENTIAL
The potential of ginger farming was recently highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who urged rural communities to take advantage of the opportunity to cultivate the crop, which offers significant financial returns.
Ahmad Zahid pointed out that ginger is in high demand in markets such as China, Europe, and the United States, especially for use in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.
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"What the Deputy Prime Minister said is absolutely true. I personally receive high orders — about five to ten tonnes per day. At the moment, I simply can’t meet the demand," Khairul Azwan said.
“I’m still in the early stages of learning in this field. I started small and am gradually expanding. I don’t even know yet how large a plot I need to cultivate in order to meet such high demand,” he shared.
"I wouldn’t rule out expanding my plots one day, if I’m blessed with more capital. God willing, with consistency, one can attract many orders both locally and internationally — as ginger is not only a food source but also an ingredient in health products," he added.
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