HIDDEN in the quiet and calm Pulau Santap, a small town in Janda Baik, is a humble fig farm. Located next to Sungai Benus, the farm is home to more than 300 types of fig species, carefully researched and planted by Fig Farm Malaysia founder and owner Datuk Syed Elias Syed Ahmad.
The 1.2ha farm, which was set up last year, is one of the largest exporters of figs in Southeast Asia. It produces up to 40kg of figs every day.
The 10 most popular fig varieties from the farm are Baleares 1, Brazlillian XP, Maroc 23, Super Jumbo, Super Red Hybrid, Beryen Feige, Red Sham, Moyuna, Masui Dauphine and SJDK (own cultivation).
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Syed Elias says it all began in 2008 when he visited Turkey, which is the world leader in fig production and consumption. It sparked his interest in figs, dubbed the “fruit from paradise”.
“I tasted fresh figs for the first time there. I fell in love with the sweet taste. Subsequently, when I visited Tunisia, I came across the fruit again. My interest grew deeper,” he told the New Sunday Times in an interview recently.
When he came back, he did more research on the fruit. It took him some eight years before he set up a fig farm in Janda Baik.
“If Cameron Highlands is known for strawberries, I want Janda Baik to be the home of figs. I hope this will attract more tourists to this small town in Bentong.
“Fig has a lot of potential as it is the fastest growing fruit. Within one month, it can bear fruits.
“With proper care and attention, the potential to commercialise figs in Malaysia is big. We have the perfect weather to allow the plant to bear fruits all year long, unlike countries that have several seasons, since fig plants need hot weather to grow.”
Together with his manager of 12 years, Mohd Rizal Musa, Syed Elias aims to have his farm churn out at least a tonne of figs per day so that he can ensure enough produce for the export market.
BOOK ON FIGS
Syed Elias’ passion for the fruit set him out on a six-year research project to document the types of figs from all over the world.
This culminated in a book titled Figs Culture in the Tropics: The Fig Malaysia Volume 1, launched in 2016,
In the 381-page book, Syed Elias chronicles the types of figs found during his travels.
It was through this research that he found types of fig that could be planted and harvested in Malaysia, although they would tend to grow in a different colour and smaller or bigger than its natural size.
NURTURING FIG FARMERS
Realising the profits that can be gained from figs and setting his sights on the future, Syed Elias trains fig farmers through a contract farming method.
He teaches farmers fig cultivation, from the beginning of germination to ensuring that it bears fruits.
He also provides them with the proper soil and saplings.
“I am willing to teach them everything. From cultivation all the way to when the fruits are harvested, provided they follow my standard operating procedures. Once the trees begin to fruit, I will buy back from them.
“I want the farmers here to know that it is possible to generate income from figs,” Syed Elias said.
All a farmer needs to prepare is a 100x100ft plot of land and a tent to grow at least 300 trees.
There are seven contract farms in Janda Baik and three in Serendah and Dengkil, Selangor, under the supervision of Syed Elias.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL
Syed Elias hopes that the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry will see the potential to produce figs for local and export markets.
“We are not only talking about figs, but also products that can be derived from the fruit. I have developed juice, jam, coffee and health supplements based on the fig through my own research. Imagine what more can be achieved if these are mass produced? Maybe in 10 years’ time, it can be something that can boost the economy.”
Fig Farm Malaysia is open to the public during weekends. Syed Elias conducts courses for fellow fig enthusiasts to develop their passion in fig planting in their own backyard.