Fertigation method turns idle land to bountiful chili farm

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 16 -- The fertigation method has enabled a scrubland area in Kampung Mengambang Lekor, here, to be turned into a productive chili farm and bringing in a lucrative income after just a few months.

It began with the determination and confidence of the wife of the Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Toh Puan Seri Tuan Faizah Tuan Ab Rahman, 51, that the method could be expanded to other locations with infertile soil.

It was exhilarating that the planting of the Grade A Sakata chili garnered a RM16,000 sale in May and was expected to exceed RM23,000 this month.

She disclosed that the selection of the idle land around March was a suicidal move. Since the land belong to the Khairunnisa Association, she had to also convince and get the consent of its members.

"Prior to that, I had obtained the views of the state Agriculture Department and discovered various farming methods in books and watching Youtube," she told Bernama at the 1.5 hectares chili farm, recently.

Tuan Faizah said the farming project not only benefitted to the members of the association but also the surrounding residents. 

The Khairunnisa Association comprised  the wives of the elected representatives in Terengganu and Tuan Faizah is its chairman. 

She said, at the beginning, 560 chili plants were planted inside pots, that were hanged in rows from poles to prevent the plants from being inundated during the monsoon, and connected to a special irrigation system. 

"The Sakata chili can be sold at a high price, imagine each pot can produce up to five kilogrammes of chili and the villagers will be able to work and earn some income during the harvest.

"Although it is a seasonal income, but at least the project is giving a good impact on the local community,” said the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Dakwah and Leadership Studies graduate.

According to Tuan Faizah, fertigation method and farming in the city were not new to her, as she was used to carry out farming on small scales before her husband was appointed Menteri Besar.

However she found out that the activity was not popular among the people in the state, and as such, to encourage others, she had started her own garden in her own backyard.

Various vegetables, such as mustard greens, spinach, eggplant, and habareno pepper as well as rare plants like fig, strawberry, passion fruit, and portulaca were growing well under her care.

"Housewives and anybody can benefited from the urban farming method and the cost is not much because some items, including seeds, are sold for as as low as RM2," she said, adding that her garden was frequently visited by those who want to get more information on farming.

"I hope this effort will be emulated, not only for the fresh produces which can be picked any time, but also to save costs, especially in this increasingly challenging economy," quipped Tuan Faizah.

-- BERNAMA