Cover image via Jabatan Pertanian Malaysia (Facebook)
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While many of his peers pursued further studies or salaried jobs after completing their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), 24-year-old Muhammad Qayyum Zunkurnain took a different path, becoming a full-time farmer
Inspired by his father's experience, Qayyum decided to cultivate a 3.2-hectare farm growing papayas and bananas.
His bold move is paying off: he now earns up to RM13,000 a month, on par with professional salaries.
"I started small, selling papayas and bananas after finishing SPM.
"But I realised supply wasn't enough to meet customer demand. That's when I decided to start my own farm," Qayyum said during a visit to his farm, as reported by Jabatan Pertanian Malaysia.
Starting with 1,000 papaya and banana plants, his farm now boasts 3,000 papaya trees and 4,000 horn banana plants, an extraordinary achievement for the young entrepreneur
Papayas are in high demand, especially among older consumers who value their digestive health benefits. They also grow faster than bananas, taking about six to seven months to mature and continuing to bear fruit for a long period.
Despite his success, Qayyum admits production still lags behind market demand, particularly during hot weather, which affects fruit yields.
Currently, his produce is sold fresh at farmers' markets across Perak, Penang, and Selangor.
He said that while some initially looked down on farming as a career, his success is now inspiring other young people to take up farming and learn from him.
"I've received a lot of guidance and support from the Senggang and Manong Farmers' Associations, the Perak State Agriculture Department, and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority," Qayyum added.
Looking ahead, he plans to expand into processed products made from papayas and bananas, adding value to his farm's harvest.
