Elderly Siblings Keep Family Farming Legacy Alive, Remain Self-Sufficient

By Mohd Noor Iqram Rosli

KUALA KRAI, June 28 (Bernama) -- The perseverance of two elderly siblings in continuing the groundnut and corn farming legacy left by their ancestors in Kampung Jelutar here over the past 30 years has remained their family's main source of income to this day.

Kamariah Sidik, 67, said the approximately 0.2-hectare plot inherited from her forefathers is sufficient for her and her elder brother, Azmi Sidik, 69, to cultivate the crops and sell them to the public at affordable prices.

"Growing groundnuts and corn is not too difficult or complicated. We just need to make sure there is enough fertiliser and keep an eye on the weeds growing around the crops. If there are weeds, we pull them out and remove them.

"For groundnuts, we can harvest them after three months and 10 days, while corn takes about two and a half months," she told Bernama recently.

Kamariah said one of the main challenges they face in cultivating the crops is the threat posed by animals and pests such as caterpillars, ants and rats.

"We start working in the field as early as 7 am and continue until around 11 am because it gets too hot after that. Our children also help us with the farming.

"I sell groundnuts at RM7 per kilogramme and corn at RM1 per cob. Thank God, the income I earn is enough to cover my daily expenses," she said, adding that her earnings fluctuate depending on the harvest.

Azmi said one of the biggest challenges they face during the dry season is the lack of water supply.

"Our farm is located near a river, but during the dry season the river becomes shallow, making it difficult for us to obtain water.

"I hope the relevant authorities can provide us with subsidies to purchase a water pump engine, a grass-cutting machine and fertiliser, as this would help reduce our operating costs," he said.

-- BERNAMA