A first-time attempt at red onion farming has earned a married couple over RM30,000, inspiring them to expand their agricultural venture.
According to Berita Harian, Azhar Arshad, 57, and his wife, Haslina Hassan, 59, started their project on a two-hectare plot in Kampung Pasir Sia, Tembeling Tengah.
A huge success
Their initial harvest produced nearly four tonnes of onions valued at more than RM30,000. Despite limited farming experience, they consider the trial a success.
We learned farming methods from onion growers in West Sumatra, Indonesia, during a visit. However, there’s still much for us to improve,” Azhan told the Malay daily.
He also highlighted the short maturity period of 75 to 90 days as a key benefit of onion cultivation.
Azhar regularly commutes from Sepang, Selangor, to the farm and manages various other crops, including pineapples, coconuts, jackfruit, bananas, and durians.
He credited his wife’s unwavering support for driving their ambitious efforts.
Plans to expand further
Haslina explained that their interest in agriculture pushed them to explore onion farming, which is less common in Malaysia compared to Indonesia or India.
The high local demand for onions encouraged us to try this crop. With six workers and guidance from the Pahang Department of Agriculture and the Jerantut District Agriculture Office, we aim to become Pahang’s leading onion producers,” she said.
Azhar noted that the main challenges include heavy rain, which onions cannot tolerate, and fungal diseases that threaten crop quality.
Nonetheless, he is optimistic about their second planting phase, set to expand their cultivation area by an additional 1.8 hectares next year.
The couple is focusing on the Bima Brebes onion variety from East Java, Indonesia, known for its high profitability. Their second phase aims to double the success of their initial harvest.
