Meet the Malaysian ‘agropreneurs’ growing S$200 Japanese muskmelons
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Meet the Malaysian 'agropreneurs' growing Southward$200 Japanese muskmelons
In Putrajaya, iii Malaysian farmers have perfected growing prized Japanese muskmelons, one of the earth's nearly expensive fruit, using a system they devised subsequently years of trial and error.
Seh Cheng Siang, Yeo Chen Swee and Mohd Sofian bin Ali, founders of Mono Premium Melon, in a photo taken earlier the pandemic. (Photo: Mono Premium Melon)
17 Jun 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 09 Aug 2022 xi:58AM)
The Japanese muskmelon and its heart-watering prices take long been the stuff of want and incredulity. Like Kobe beef, these melons are pampered and bred with meticulous care to ensure each fruit is the platonic ideal of its species.
In the unlikely federal territory of Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital, Seh Cheng Siang, Mohd Sofian bin Ali and Yeo Chen Swee have started a farm under the make, Mono Premium Melon, growing these prized fruits.
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Seh, an expert in hydroponics and fertiliser, Sofian, an agronomics engineer, and Yeo, who specialises in agrochemical and pest and disease management, have many years of agronomics manufacture backgrounds under their respective belts.
They had been growing melons for more than than x years but with their combined expertise, recently discovered the correct combination of technologies to be able to grow this notoriously finicky crop successfully, even in a tropical environment.
"Due to COVID-xix, we can't travel out of the country, including Nihon, then nosotros decided to bring a bit of Japan to Malaysia." – Seh Cheng Siang
"We chose the name Mono as it comes from the Japanese phrase Mono-No Aware – which means that dazzler is subjective, and it'southward our sensitivity to the world around us that makes it beautiful. In detail, the transience of the concrete world and our awareness that dazzler is impermanent makes us appreciate it more," explained Seh.
While the inspiration for the name came from a poetic place, the impetus behind setting up Mono Premium Melon came from a desire to convince Malaysians that growing a prestige crop like muskmelons was not impossible.
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"We've met many practiced local growers that can grow adept quality local fruits but they don't have the know-how and platform to market it properly to the end-user," said Seh. "Every bit such, we gear up Mono every bit a way to showcase to Malaysia that we could use a B2C business model to accomplish cease-users directly, making sure that our produce reaches them in the manner that we would similar to present."
Extensive inquiry was done on various types of Japanese melons beforehand to find a diversity that was suitable in terms of oestrus tolerance, illness resistance, eating quality and appearance. Later on many rounds of testing with seeds exclusively imported from Japan, the Arus variety was chosen because information technology worked best in Malaysian weather condition and the trio'southward smart planting system.
"Nosotros received lots of positive and encouraging feedback on the growing and fruit quality. Nosotros were also surprised to be contacted by some VIPs who were interested in what we were doing." – Seh Cheng Siang
This system is a combination of an Autopot hydroponics organisation, a Nido Net of Things (IoT) Controller, and several technical practices. The Autopot hydroponics system is a "plant-driven" watering and feeding system which delivers precise amounts with nil run-off, while the Nido Controller is used for the management and monitoring of pH, temperature, water level and humidity, to name only a few – all of which tin be monitored from a smartphone.
The technical practices are where things become less technical, ironically. For starters, the melons are "serenaded" with particularly composed music with binaural beats and isochronic tones to stimulate growth. The melons are also regularly polished with a soft material or glove, a practise called tama-fuki, to enhance their season and encourage the forming of the distinctive cyberspace-like pattern found on the melon'due south skin.
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Since Mono Premium Melon was set up, they've harvested their crop once in April this year and the 200 melons, which were marketed online, were sold out. The melons sold for RM168 (S$54) each, which is almost a third of the price the Japanese varieties normally go for. In Singapore, prices range from S$150 to S$200 for a unmarried melon at specialty grocers and Japanese supermarkets.
The "agropreneurs" were delighted at the buzz their melons acquired and believe they managed to evidence that local growers can produce good quality fruits.
"We received lots of positive and encouraging feedback on the growing and fruit quality. We were too surprised to exist contacted by some VIPs who were interested in what we were doing," Seh said with a smile.
At the moment, Mono Premium Melon is focussing on the Malaysian marketplace with an eye to working together with local restaurants that share their same beliefs, although they are too open to consign if there's an opportunity to practice and then.
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For a fledgling enterprise, Seh reveals that while the COVID-19 pandemic has been hugely challenging to the industry, the trio accept taken it as an opportunity instead.
"Because of COVID-19, the supply chain and value concatenation between grower and end-user is getting closer. This ways that growers can arrive bear upon with their customers hands without going through layers of middlemen, wholesalers, retailers or transporters as people are more familiar with e-commerce and online purchasing," stated Seh.
"Starting anything properly is a key point and that'due south the communication I would also give new 'agropreneurs'. Also to call back out of the box." – Seh Cheng Siang
Indeed, the trio's positivity is fuelled by the back up of their corresponding families, whom they cite as their inspiration. They attribute their achievements in growing muskmelons successfully to believing in themselves and laying the proper groundwork for the endeavor.
"Starting anything properly is a fundamental indicate and that'southward the advice I would also requite new 'agropreneurs'," said Seh. "Likewise to remember out of the box. For case, if we were to accept washed anything differently in this enterprise, we would play better music for our melons, like some unplugged or live band music. Seriously!"
Every bit Mono Premium Melon navigates the future and looks forward to its next harvest, Seh reveals that they are working on expanding their production to ensure a more than consistent supply. They likewise hope that Mono will inspire many young or new "agropreneurs", not to mention bring some joy to their fellow Malaysians: "Due to COVID-19, we tin't travel out of the country, including Nippon, so we decided to bring a fleck of Japan to Malaysia."
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/mono-premium-melons-malaysia-japanese-muskmelons-249841
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