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When the world came to a standstill during the Movement Control Order (MCO) four years ago, most of us turned to cooking, binge-watching shows, or learning TikTok dances.
But for 29-year-old A. Srinath, it became the beginning of an entirely new life — one that would eventually prove the doubters wrong.
Once a software engineer earning RM5,000 a month, Srinath now makes around RM50,000 per farming season from chilli crops — a 900% income increase from his former corporate paycheque, all thanks to growing chillies and other crops on his fertigation farm.
Left the 9-5 because ‘Joy was missing’
With a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Srinath never imagined he’d end up working the land instead of behind a desk.
At the time, he was earning a decent salary, but deep down, he felt something was missing.
When I was in the corporate world, the joy was missing when I went to the office. I realised my mindset didn’t suit corporate life as I was more into operating a business.”
During the lockdown, he started a small fertigation chilli project near his parents’ house with his elder brother as a side hustle.
Together, they planted 400 polybags of chillies, and to his surprise, the results were promising.
With his father’s encouragement — though his mother was a little hesitant — the agropreneur took a bold step at 26, leaving his job to venture into farming.
Learning everything from scratch
With no background in farming, Srinath taught himself everything. “I didn’t have any knowledge about farming. No one in my family has an agriculture background.”
His brother helped him understand the theory, while he focused on practical skills. He also attended free courses organised by the Department of Agriculture, and even travelled to Cameron Highlands to learn directly from experienced farmers.
Now, the farmer from Teluk Intan leases land, runs fertigation systems (no soil needed), and manages a full team of workers.
Why chillies?
Srinath chose chillies not just because Malaysians love their spice, but also for a strategic reason.
Chillis have a long harvesting period. The more days you spend harvesting, the more profit you’ll get. But it’s also the hardest crop to grow.”
Farming isn’t always smooth sailing.
Srinath didn’t stop at chillies. Over time, his farm diversified to seven different crops, which were rotated based on the crop’s season.
Of course, the journey wasn’t always rosy. He recalls his early days when he overspent RM30,000, only to earn RM10,000 in return. But it was a learning curve.
“We face losses during climate changes, like rain disrupting production. And also market price drops — for example, cucumbers priced at RM1 initially, suddenly dropping to RM0.50.” he told us.
“What motivated me to go all in was the sales, where I earned what I used to earn in a whole month in just a day. That was the turning point for me to turn a side hustle became a full-fledged business,” he said.
Fast forward to today, Srinath’s farm now boasts nearly 40,000 polybags. His produce is sold at markets in Teluk Intan and also to big wholesalers like Selayang Wholesale Market in Selangor.
Even my former teacher looked down on me
Another big challenge? People’s perceptions.
Like many others who broke away from societal norms, Srinath faced his own share of being on the receiving end of stereotypical remarks thrown at him, even from former colleagues didn’t take him seriously at first.
“They used to cut me off when I talked about farming. But once they saw my success, they started asking questions.” he said.
In my second year of farming, even my school teacher looked down on me when he saw me at the market handing out vegetables… The look he gave really hit me.”
But life came full circle when Srinath bumped into the same teacher again — this time while speaking with an Agriculture Department officer at a mamak stall.
“He voluntarily came to me and asked how I was doing. That moment made me feel proud.” Srinath expressed.
Giving back to the youth
Today, Srinath isn’t just a farmer — he’s also a mentor.
I conduct training and courses about farming for both corporate clients and individuals. We welcome youngsters into this industry.”
Some youths even train under him for free. “I gave one young guy a whole farm and 1,000 polybags to run — and I’m teaching him hands-on.”
To make sure they stay committed, Srinath lets them join as investors.
Once they learn everything and want to open their own farm, I’ll return the money they invested here. It’s a win-win situation.”
With his IT background, Srinath has big plans for the future. He wants to incorporate IoT (Internet of Things) to make farming smarter and more efficient.
“With IoT, we can control everything using mobile internet.”
No regrets, just growth
Srinath’s journey from being judged for selling vegetables at the market to earning RM50,000 per season is nothing short of inspiring. And no, he doesn’t regret his decision — not one bit.
To be honest, I took time to sort everything out, and I don’t regret my decision at all.”
Success isn’t always found in air-conditioned offices or by climbing the corporate ladder. Sometimes, it grows from the soil up, and the courage to follow your gut — even when others look down on you.
From zero farming experience to running a multi-crop operation and mentoring others, Srinath’s living proof that passion and persistence go a long way.
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