Why Malaysia’s muskmelon ‘agropreneurs’ are now growing square watermelons
To say that 2022 has been a difficult year would be an understatement. As the world grappled with adapting to a post-COVID-19 mural, three Malaysian agropreneurs reaped the fruits of their dream projection.
Seh Cheng Siang, Mohd Sofian bin Ali and Yeo Chen Swee, known collectively every bit Mono Premium Melon, caused a sensation with their commencement muskmelon harvest in April 2022 as this proved that their proprietary agro-organization allowed this precious crop to be grown in tropical Putrajaya, Selangor. Since then, the trio have been busy sharing their knowledge and spreading a bulletin of positivity that where there is a will, there is definitely a way.
Since the agropreneurs had successfully grown 1 of the most expensive fruits on the market, they decided to shift their focus to growing something that was at the other end of the spectrum. They wanted to abound something generally considered a inexpensive ingather, the generic watermelon, but with a twist – the trio would challenge themselves by growing the melons in a square shape.
"Technically, growing square-shaped watermelons is very challenging, due to a few factors," explained Seh. "Firstly the selection of watermelon type is crucial. It needs to taste good and look nice just must not crack hands. Secondly the farmer needs to ensure you get a nicely shaped fruit, in that if it'due south too pocket-size of a fruit, it won't form a square and if it'due south also big, information technology will cause the fruit to crack.
"Lastly, we must brand sure in that location's a consistent supply of water and nutrients for compatible growth. Generally, until the 2nd we take out the foursquare-shaped fruit from the mould, we would not cartel to say we have successfully grown a square-shaped watermelon."
Along with its growing activities, Mono decided to launch a Pay What You Desire scheme to let their followers to feel their products while giving them the freedom to make up one's mind how much to pay for information technology.
"This scheme empowers our fans to determine on the value of our produce. It likewise eliminates their worry of whether our product is worth a given ready price and possible chance of thwarting. For the states, we tin make sure we always sell at the 'right' cost that is decided past our consumers. For both buyers and sellers, information technology creates a friendly win-win exchange that is centred on value and trust," enthused Seh.
This scheme was implemented in a Merdeka Wink Sale over the end of August where consumers could choose from ownership one muskmelon, one square watermelon or two mini watermelons. The outcome for this was encouraging, with more than fifty per cent of consumers choosing pay either RM88 or RM108 (Due south$28.l or S$35).
From an outreach standpoint, Mono also launched a melon plant adoption program as a response to the many requests to visit their farm. How does this piece of work? While Mono will take care of the plant, the adopted "parents" may visit their institute in compliance with motility brake orders and with prior appointment.
During this time, they may witness the entire growing process and receive their constitute straight from the farm during harvest. Since the new planting flavor started in October, the harvest is expected sometime in mid-January 2022, but in time for Chinese New year's day.
When news of their first drib of muskmelons began to go viral, the trio were approached past other aspiring agropreneurs eager to commencement farms of their own. "We were happy to advise many of them as we wanted them to starting time their farms properly. This is important because at the finish of the day, to make sure the agronomics is sustainable, the farmer first has to be able to make turn a profit," said Seh.
To back up this, Seh explains that they have set up a sister company, Irritec Sdn Bhd, to provide smart farming solutions. "Through this company, nosotros assistance new agropreneurs ready new farms and provide technical advice on the growing," explained Seh. "We take helped gear up 8 farms in v months and accept had enquiries coming from the Maldives, Singapore, Thailand, the UAE, People's republic of bangladesh and Indonesia."
Mono, all the same, volition continue working towards showcasing what Malaysian growers tin can grow. "Our principle volition always remain – Malaysian-grown for Malaysians. Nosotros believe if we do it properly, growers can produce premium and high-quality produce that's better or of equivalent quality compared to imported premium fruits," enthused Seh. "Japanese muskmelons will withal exist our key crop, only we volition be expanding to dissimilar types with orange mankind and unlike aromas."
While these agropreneurs have been successful thus far, they remain realistic nigh farming, preferring to temper their positivity.
"There are no guarantees in agriculture. Even if you accept the most advanced technology and the about experienced subcontract manager, i hitting of bad weather or disease outbreak tin damage your hard piece of work. This is not to scare people abroad, but would-be famers demand to be mentally prepared for things like this," cautioned Seh.
"So, what we tin do with Irritec Sdn Bhd and Mono Premium Melon is to provide all the technologies and technical know-how that tin can assist to reduce the risks for all those external uncertainties. Nosotros believe the correct technologies can help the farmer to troubleshoot more accurately and assist with better conclusion-making."
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/mono-melon-square-watermelon-malaysia-285217
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