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Discipline, Commitment Essential For IPR-INTAN Participants In Chilli Farming

12/08/2024 07:09 PM

By Amanina Mohamad Yusof

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- High discipline and commitment are two key factors that must be upheld by participants of the People's Income Initiative (IPR)-Agricultural Entrepreneur Initiative (INTAN) Project to ensure that their farming efforts yield satisfactory results.

One of the participants, Mohd Sadi Abd Rahman, 45, better known as Jo, shared that while he initially had no knowledge of agriculture, his strong self-discipline and eagerness to learn about chilli farming have paid off, allowing him to now enjoy the income he earns from the project.

The former event crew member said that before joining IPR-INTAN, he earned an average of RM2,000 a month, sometimes less, and often faced income instability due to a lack of jobs. However, he now takes home an average of RM5,000 a month.

"When I first joined the programme last August, I had no experience in agriculture.

"Thanks to the guidance from the chilli farming expert, whom we call ‘cikgu’ (teacher), I learned a lot, from planting to harvesting. However, all this would not have guaranteed a fruitful harvest without self-discipline," he told Bernama.

The father of four said that to become a successful farmer, he needs to be at the farm as early as 7.30 am, take a break at noon, and then return to the farm from 2 pm until late in the afternoon to manage the plot assigned to him.

“Farming requires hard work, time, and a high level of dedication, including waking up early and adhering to the established standard operating procedures (SOPs),” he said.

Mohd Sadi said everything is provided by the government through the Kuala Langat Area Farmers’ Organisation (PPK), including equipment, pesticides, soil and seeds.

For Saimah Abdullah, 66, the only woman among the 20 IPR-INTAN participants in Putrajaya, the initiative introduced by the Ministry of Economy not only helps to increase the income of B40 group but also provides participants with opportunities to gain new knowledge and share it with their neighbours.

"The opportunity to be a participant in this programme is very valuable. It opens up avenues not only to increase income but also to acquire knowledge that can be shared with the community.

"The IPR-INTAN project is truly beneficial for the people. If you are without a job, join this programme to increase your income, and the key is to be willing to work hard," said the retired civil servant.

Putrajaya IPR-INTAN project leader Luqman Nur Hakim Alias said that 20 participants aged between 21 and 71 from the B40 group were selected to join the fertigation chilli farming project on a four-hectare site in Precinct 9 in August last year.

He said 40,000 polybags were planted with the Sakata 461 chilli variety on the site, and during the harvest season, each polybag is expected to produce around two to three kilogrammes of chillies per season.

"Here, we have a teacher who teaches participants on how to sow seeds, care for the plants, and harvest the produce.

"If it rains during the day, participants are required to come to the farm at night to fertilise or spray pesticides," he said.

Luqman Nur Hakim said that each participant is assigned to manage one plot containing 2,000 chilli plants.

He added that the harvested chillies would be sent to the Kuala Langat PPK collection centre before being distributed to buyers and customers, such as restaurants, morning markets, and companies that produce chilli sauce.

The Putrajaya IPR-INTAN Project is a strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, through the Farmers' Organisation Authority and the Kuala Langat PPK.

-- BERNAMA

 

 


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