Our next stop in our journey across Paka, Terengganu is Uncle Wong’s farm. Uncle Wong’s story is an inspiring one, as Sean mentions to us how he works his large plot of land by himself, without the help from any workers. By car, it took nearly 15 minutes to reach his farm from the main road because the road conditions were not great, bumping around as we went deeper into the woods.
As we reached the end of the road, we were greeted by Uncle Wong and his son, who came back from the city to help out on his farm. We interviewed Uncle Wong to find out more about his story.
Farm Doktor: What do you plant on your farm now?
Uncle Wong: I started off planting oil palm, and hired workers to help me with tending to the farms. At one point, oil palm prices dropped a lot, and since my oil palm plantation is not very large, my workers couldn’t get a stable income, so they left for a better plantation.
At the time, Uncle Wong was reminded of a saying that his uncle told him “You young people should plant durian!”. And so he decided why not give it a try! Now Uncle Wong mainly plants durian trees in his farm.
But even with planting durian trees, Uncle Wong tends to the entire farm by himself. This is because of his previous bad experiences with lazy workers. Even though it was his choice to do this, Uncle Wong admits that handling an entire farm alone is no easy feat.
Farm Doktor: Do you sell the durian that you harvest from these trees?
Uncle Wong: Actually, it's quite unfortunate that my durian trees, even those that are 7 years old, have yet to bear fruit. Although they produce flowers, they never develop into durian fruit. I need to explore new methods to encourage fruiting.
Farm Doktor: In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect faced by Malaysian farmers?
Uncle Wong: I would say it's the process of exporting our harvested durian overseas, as local farmers face difficulties obtaining the necessary permits. Additionally, the cost of fertilizers is very high and poses a financial challenge.
Farm Doktor: Do farmers in rural areas like this struggle to find farming products?
Uncle Wong: Yes, that is indeed a challenge. The fertilizers I see in YouTube videos, for example, are not readily available here. I usually rely on a nearby farming retail store for supplies, but their options are limited, even though the prices are reasonable.
Farm Doktor: In comparison to other crops, would you say durian farming is more challenging?
Uncle Wong: Durian farming is actually manageable, as long as there is sufficient manpower to assist in its management. I used to grow other crops like chili and watermelon, but encountered some land-related issues, possibly due to the size and condition of my land.
Farm Doktor: Did the flash flood last December (year 2021) affect your orchard?
Uncle Wong: Yes, the water levels rose significantly. Unfortunately, my oil palm trees, which had already flowered and developed small fruits, suffered from fruit rot due to prolonged immersion of their roots in water. It resulted in a significant loss for me.
We wrapped up the interview and Uncle Wong showed us around his farm. His freshly cut grass made the farm seem neat and tidy, and the surrounding area is relatively clean. His farm has a small patch of water that was as clear as day, tempting us to take a swim in it to escape the hot weather.
Special thanks to Uncle Wong for allowing us to pay a visit to his farm and understanding the challenges he faces on a daily basis. If you would like for us to visit your farm next, feel free to contact us on WhatsApp at +603-9213 0863.