Finding joy in working with the land while at home during the (MCO) amid the COVID-19 pandemic, A Srinath, 29 years old and a holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Universiti Tenaga Nasional, made a life-changing decision to leave his job as a software engineer and embark on a new journey as a chilli farmer. In a recent interview with Bernama, Srinath shared his words on his success as a chilli farmer.
“I talked to my parents about planting red chillies on a larger scale and decided to resign after three years of working as an engineer and returned here to grow chillies”
This crucial moment led him to start a chilli farm using fertigation methods in his hometown in Teluk Intan, Perak.
Srinath’s venture into farming began modestly during the MCO period when he, along with his eldest brother, started a small-scale chilli farm near their parents home in Kampung Changkat Jong. Initially, they planted 400 polybags of red chillies using the fertigation system, a method where fertilisers are delivered to plants in a solution through a drip irrigation system.
“After the work-from-home period ended, I returned to Subang Jaya to resume working in the office, but I found great enjoyment in being a farmer,” said Srinath.
“I discussed with my parents about planting red chillies using the fertigation method on a larger scale, and decided to resign after three years of working as an engineer to return here and grow chillies.”
Srinath invested around MYR50,000 from his savings to buy essential equipment such as polybags, pipes and water pumps to build a storage facility for the chilli farm. Recognizing his lack of agricultural experience, he attended courses organized by the Perak State Department of Agriculture, where he learned about seedling germination, fertiliser and pesticide mixing and the intricacies of the fertigation system.
Today, Srinath rents a 0.68-hectare plot of land and employs three workers to help manage his farm. They have successfully planted 2,500 polybags of “Kulai 461” red chillies. Srinath’s hard work and dedication have paid off, generating an income of around MYR40,000 to MYR50,000 per season with a yield of about five tonnes.
The red chillies are sold across the district, including at the Teluk Intan Central Market, supermarkets, grocery stores and to wholesalers at the Selayang Wholesale Market in Selangor. The prices range from MYR6 to MYR11 per kg depending on the current market rates.
Despite the challenges of pest attacks such as red mites, thrips, whiteflies and diseases like the mosaic virus, Srinath finds immense satisfaction in his new vocation.
“I enjoy and feel satisfied working on this fertigation chilli farm. I am also growing cucumbers on a small scale”
“I have long-term plans to expand this fertigation chilli farming on a larger scale and of course, I want to continue this in my hometown here”
Looking ahead, Srinath has long-term plans to expand his fertigation chilli farming operation on a larger scale, and he is committed to continuing this venture in his hometown. His journey from a software engineer to a successful chilli farmer not only highlights his resilience and adaptability but also contributes significantly to the nation’s food security.
