JERANTUT: A husband-and-wife duo has been inspired to expand their pioneering red onion cultivation project after earning an impressive RM30,000 from their first harvest, which they are developing in stages.
Starting with an area of two hectares, Azhar Arshad, 57, and his wife Haslina Hassan, 59, plan to expand their cultivation of the Bima Brebes variety of onion, which originates from East Java, Indonesia, and can provide substantial income.
Azhar said that they launched their onion cultivation project last September in Kampung Pasir Sia, Tembeling Tengah, here.
He added that within three months, they expect to harvest their first crop, and for the second phase, they aim to add another 1.8ha of planting beginning next year.
"Our first phase produced nearly four tonnes of red onions worth over RM30,000, and we consider this attempt a success, despite facing various challenges due to our inexperience.
"We learned the methods of red onion cultivation from farmers in West Sumatra, Indonesia, during a visit there, but it is still not sufficient," he said.
He credited his wife's unwavering support as a driving force behind his commitment to the red onion project, which has a strong market demand in Malaysia.
He explained that the advantage of onion cultivation is its short maturation period of between 75 to 90 days, and the maintenance of these crops is not too burdensome compared to vegetables.
He added that his deep interest in the onion project does not feel like a burden as he commutes every week from his home in Sepang, Selangor, to Kampung Pasir Sia, Tembeling Tengah.
"We also manage a garden with pineapple, coconut, jackfruit, banana, durian, and mango trees, which we have been cultivating for the past five years.
"The challenges of red onion cultivation include weather, especially rain, as these plants cannot tolerate excessive water. Additionally, they are also susceptible to diseases like fungi that can damage the onions.
"I am confident that this second phase will yield results that are double what we achieved previously," he said, adding that he also works as a plantation manager for a private company.
Meanwhile, Haslina said that their passion for agriculture motivated them to engage in the onion cultivation project, which remains relatively uncommon in Malaysia compared to Indonesia and India.
"The high demand for onions in this country encouraged us to pursue this crop, which has a promising market.
"We are assisted by six workers and also receive advice from the Pahang Agricultural Department and the Jerantut District Agricultural Office. We aspire to become the leading onion producers in Pahang," she said.
Pahang Agricultural Department director Muhd Rizal Baharom said that they will continue to support farmers interested in large-scale onion cultivation in the state.
"We will continue to monitor the onion cultivation project initiated by Azhar and his wife, who are already reaping substantial rewards. We hope their efforts will inspire many more farmers who wish to cultivate onions in the future," he said.