SEBERANG PERAI: A dinner-time warning about a dish of cabbage and watermelon was a turning point for businessman Leong Jyh Wen.
It was reinforced after he visited a flower farm in Cameron Highlands to sell plastic pots.
His son, Hans, told FMT Leong had been warned by a friend at a dinner in Sarawak that furadan pesticide was used to protect crops of cabbage and watermelon.
Later, in Cameron Highlands, a client said farmers would use more than 20 types of pesticides on their rose plants to keep pests away.
Those warnings proved the inspiration for Leong to set up an organic farm in Simpang Ampat, called the Baba Eco research and organic farm.
Today, his pottery company, Baba Eco Group, does more than just sell organic produce and gardening equipment, it also advocates for organic farming.
“We teach the farmers about how to integrate organic farming techniques into their farms,” said Leong.
So far, 70 farmers have attended an organic conversion programme, and converted more than 640 acres of conventional agricultural land into organic ones. The company also helps these farmers sell their organic produce as well.
The company also invites teachers to show them how to do organic farming.
“Initially we used to have a programme with the schoolchildren. Our staff would go to schools and teach them organic farming on a voluntary basis.
“But we could not meet the increasing demands over the years, so we introduced this programme for teachers,” said Leong.
About 150 teachers have been involved to date.
Leong said his firm, which is considered to be a small and medium enterprise, has also organised a regular conference bringing together farmers and agriculture officials to discuss ways to expand the organic farming sector. - FMT
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