Instead of idling during movement control period, teen ventures into planting sweet potatoes

Muhammad Ikmal Haikal Ab. Mueei, who previously worked as a shop assistant at a food outlet, did not want to miss out on the opportunity when offered to be one of the 70 participants in the clustered vitato sweet potato planting in Kampung Banggol here.

"I started planting vitato sweet potatoes over a month ago after being offered an acre of land to work on. Initially, I was hesitant because I did not have any experience and knowledge on agriculture.

"However, since I also cannot work during the MCO, I accepted the offer to plant the vitato sweet potato. "It was initially difficult, I didn't know anything but many other older and more experienced participants were willing to teach me," he said.

Speaking to reporters during the Vitato Sweet Potato Harvesting Programme at the Clustered Vitato Sweet Potato Planting Centre in Kampung Banggol here, he said he was happy and could not wait to harvest the fruits of his labour for the first time in two months' time.

Muhammad Ikmal said that although youths his age were not keen on farming, he was not only unabashed about venturing into farming but aspired to become a successful farmer one day.

"The values of hard work and discipline are among the ethics I picked up when learning about planting the vitato sweet potato. My daily routine is to be at the farm as early as 7 am or 8 am to spray pesticide. I also need to go to the farm in the evening to spruce it up and fertilise it.

"Furthermore, I work alone and have to put in the extra effort. My father (Ab. Mueei Hamid, 62) and mother (Fatimah Saleh, 50) also help out but they are old and cannot do heavy work," said Muhammad Ikmal, who spent RM1,000 for the venture.

Meanwhile, the State Agriculture, Agro-based Industries and Rural Development Committee chairman Dr Azman Ibrahim said the vitato sweet potato planting centre, which started early this year, was a state government project through its subsidiary company, Terengganu Agrotech Development Corporation (TADC).

"The centre is run by 70 local residents. Every participant is provided with a one-acre land to plant vitato sweet potato under the Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL). We estimate each acre can produce five tonnes of vitato sweet potatoes which can be sold at RM1.80 a kilogramme.

"So, the clustered farming on 70 acres or 28 hectares can produce about 350 tonnes of vitato sweet potatoes with an estimated sales revenue o fRM630,000. The demand for vitato sweet potatoes will be higher during the monsoon season and its price is also expected to go up during this period," he said.

Dr Azman urged more farmers, including youths, to venture into the vitato sweet potato planting industry as it has a very good prospect.