Hanging fertigation method reduces losses, doubles profit during monsoon season

DUNGUN, Nov 25 -- The hanging fertigation method has not only proven capable of reducing losses but also helping the vegetable farmers to double their profits during the monsoon season.

Checks by Bernama at several farms here found that most farmers had been utilising the method to ‘save’ their crops, especially from floods.

Wan Abd Rahim Wan Jalil, 48, revealed that he has been earning quite a lucrative income as many farmers who practised conventional farming would suspend their work once the wet season began, thus reducing 40 per cent of vegetable supply in the market.

“As such, farmers who adopt the hanging fertigation method will make full use of this opportunity to sell their produces to meet the demands of the consumers, and of course, making more profits,” he told Bernama when met at his farm in Kampung Tebing Tembah near Paka, here, today.

Wan Abd Rahim ventured into the agriculture sector in 2006 with 3,000 polybags of vegetables such as cucumber and sakata chilli S461, and now owns 25,000 polybags of vegetables at two farms with four workers.

“Normally, early November till the end of February is a critical time for me because my income throughout the four-month period will depend on whether the crops can be harvested or not.

“I had experienced losses before due to insects when works to spray insecticides cannot be done during the monsoon season. From that experience, I learned how to continue farming even during the monsoon season,” he said.

According to Wan Abd Rahim, during the monsoon season, sakata chili S461 can be sold at a price as high as RM20 per kilogramme (kg) compared to RM10 to RM12 per kg before the season, while the price of cucumber and eggplant has now doubled to RM4 per kg compared to RM2 previously.

However, for another farmer, Yusuf Harun, the monsoon was still affecting the growth of his cucumber plants despite having implemented the hanging fertigation method for the past three weeks.

The 27-year-old, nonetheless, insisted on enduring the condition, which required him to wait for at least another three weeks before he could harvest his crops.

“The plant growth is a bit late due to lack of sunshine and hence, cannot be harvested on time,” quipped Yusuf who manage two farms with his brother.

Albeit disappointment, Yusuf determines to follow through his plan while pointing out that even outside the rainy season, many other factors, like fungus and insects, could affect his plants.

“What is important is for me to keep on striving by utilising the new technology,” he added.

-- BERNAMA