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When Jong Siew Kuen and her husband first poured RM1.5 million into an oyster mushroom farm in Bintulu, Sarawak, many saw it as a risky move. But five years later, the couple's risk has paid off big time.
Their farm now brings them RM37,500 a month, or RM450,000 a year.
Their journey began with 60,000 mushroom grow bags, a lot of trial and error, and hard work. Today, the farm has expanded to over 100,000 grow bags, with each producing roughly 80 grammes of mushrooms per harvest.
"So far, this mushroom cultivation business is managed by five workers, and both my husband and I are involved in running the farm," she told Harian Metro recently.
Jong, now 41, said she and her husband made a lot of sacrifices, both financially and personally, to get the business off the ground.
"I've always had a deep interest in cultivating oyster mushrooms. At the same time, it's also a great source of high-protein food, so I was determined to give it a try," she shared.
The process isn't as easy as it looks
Mushrooms require constant care and a precise environment to thrive.
"Growing mushrooms is like raising children. They need close attention and must be watered at least three times a day," she explained, adding that cultivating mushrooms demands a lot of patience and dedication.
But it hasn't all been smooth sailing. One of their biggest setbacks came in 2022, when their farm was hit by a bacterial infection that destroyed a massive portion of their stock.
"We suffered a major loss of RM130,000 that year," Jong recalled.
"All the mushroom grow bags had to be discarded, and the affected areas had to be sanitised before we could start planting again," she added.
Still, they pushed on, and now supply their mushrooms not just locally to Bintulu and Miri, but also across the border to Brunei Darussalam.
For those interested in buying or learning more, you can reach Perfect 10 Fresh Mushrooms Sdn Bhd at 013-8142569, or check out their Facebook page.
Image via Perfect 10 FRESH Mushrooms (Facebook)
