From Naval Officer To Agropreneur, Driven By Food Security Mission.

After leaving the Navy in 2024 with the rank of lieutenant, 35-year-old Mohamed Adib Abdul Razak ventured into sheep farming despite having no prior experience in the industry.

Sharing his dramatic career shift with Bernama, the entrepreneur admitted that livestock farming was never part of his plans. However, his experience in the military opened his eyes to the importance of food security for the people and the country.

 “During my time in the military, I realised something important. A country may have a strong defence system, but without a stable and secure food supply, it remains vulnerable. That made me see food security not merely as an agricultural issue but as a national strategic issue,” he said.

 

 

Mohamed Adib, who is affectionately known as ‘Komandan Birri’, established the Argrow Farm and ‘Berek Birri’ brands in 2024 under his company Afdal Rezeki Sdn Bhd.

“I had to leave the military due to health reasons, even though my passion for the service remained strong. Nevertheless, I accepted the situation and began a new chapter of my life as a sheep farmer,” said the father of two.

He started his sheep farm in Johol, Negeri Sembilan, with just five Dorper sheep, particularly the Black Head Dorper breed, which is renowned for its rapid growth rate, high-quality meat and strong commercial value.

Explaining how his naval career equipped him with the skills and qualities needed to run a successful business, Mohamed Adib said his first five years in the RMN were spent aboard naval vessels, where he was directly involved in operations that honed his mental resilience, sharpened his leadership abilities and instilled a strong sense of teamwork.

“I was later posted to the RMN Air Wing, where I flew aircraft, before moving into management roles that involved a wide range of strategic responsibilities. All of these experiences have helped me become a livestock entrepreneur, despite having no background in farming,” he explained.

Mohamed Adib, who is also the chief executive officer of Afdal Rezeki, has since applied the skills he acquired in the military to the livestock industry, while continuously expanding his knowledge through self-learning and field observations.

Within just two years, his operation has expanded, with 134 sheep now reared on his 2.4-hectare farm using modern livestock farming practices. He has also opened a branch of his farm – which he calls ‘Berek Birri’ – on a 0.4-ha plot in Batu Pahat, Johor.

 

 

At the same time, he diversified his business by venturing into mutton-related downstream products.

“As my farm operations grew, I realised that the livestock industry cannot rely solely on the sale of livestock. Argrow Farm has since expanded into the downstream segment through Argrow Food Industries, which focuses on developing halal food products and ready-to-eat (RTE) meals.

“To me, the true value of this industry lies in our ability to build the entire supply chain,  from farm to finished food products, creating greater added value and reaching a broader market,” he said, adding that he is always guided by the motto, ‘Our Food, Our Responsibility’.

Through Argrow Food Industries, this young entrepreneur produces a range of meat-based RTE products, including Birri™yani Birri, Nasi Goreng Birri™ and Birri™yani Lambshank. The company also manufactures Birri™Kool beverages and Baja Birri™, an organic fertiliser.

According to Mohamed Adib, demand for the company’s downstream products has been highly encouraging, consistently outstripping production capacity. The products have also become a key contributor to the company’s sales revenue, which now reaches up to RM750,000 annually.

 

 

Reflecting on the challenges he faced, Mohamed Adib acknowledged that adapting in the early stages was difficult as entrepreneurship is far more uncertain compared to the structured and disciplined nature of military life.

“When I entered the livestock and business sector, I had to start from scratch and teach myself… I had to understand farm operations, financial management and marketing, and face the real challenges on the ground,” he said.

He added that livestock farming also requires significant capital due to high operating costs, while being exposed to risks such as disease and market fluctuations.

“In the early days, I not only had to build customer confidence but also prove that the agro-based sector can be managed professionally and in a modern way.

“For me, challenges in this industry are inevitable, but they can be managed with knowledge, systems and the ability to continuously adapt. My experience in the military taught me that every operation carries risks. What matters most is preparedness, planning and the ability to keep moving forward even in difficult circumstances,” he stressed.

 

 

Looking ahead, Mohamed Adib plans to establish ‘Berek Birri’ and ‘Berek Lembu’ hubs in various states within the next five years. He also hopes to develop his farm into an agro-education and agro-tourism destination.

He said the initiative aims to raise public awareness on the importance of food security and the potential risks the country could face if it is taken lightly.

“If a country becomes too dependent on food imports, it becomes highly vulnerable when a crisis occurs. Malaysia still has significant room to strengthen its food self-sufficiency, particularly in the protein and ruminant sectors.

“I believe the development of the livestock, agriculture and food industries must become a strategic national agenda involving collaboration among the government, industry and society. We can no longer view the agro sector as a second-class industry; instead, it is a crucial sector for the nation’s future economy and security,” he said.

He also highlighted the importance of strengthening technology in agriculture so that the sector is no longer perceived as “dirty” or unattractive to youth.

“Strengthening food security is not solely the government’s responsibility but requires cooperation from all parties, including industry players, educational institutions and the community. We must begin to build a culture that values local food producers and recognises the agro sector as an important form of national defence for economic sustainability and public well-being,” he said.

Urging young people not to view livestock farming and agriculture as difficult or unglamorous, Mohamed Adib said the reality is that the food industry is one of the most critical sectors for a nation’s survival, and no matter how advanced technology becomes, humans will always need food every day.

“Today, the agro industry has also evolved significantly. Modern farming involves technology, data, automation, digital marketing, downstream products and a broad business ecosystem. Young people need to see this field as a sector with great potential for professional careers and sustainable business growth,” he said.