What began as a fondness for mushroom dishes has grown into a sustainable agribusiness for Noor Saiful Amri, a native of Pontian who now earns his living cultivating and supplying mushroom blocks.
Cendawan Saifulam Agro Farm founder Noor Saiful Amri, 42, said his foray into mushroom farming began in 2005 while he was employed at Kolej Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn, now known as Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. The venture started as a modest attempt to supplement his income.
His interest deepened as he read newspaper articles on mushroom cultivation, prompting him to seek guidance from the Pontian and Johor Bahru district offices of the Department of Agriculture. He attended courses in Johor before furthering his training at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Armed with new knowledge, he began cultivating mushrooms on a small scale in 2005, selling his harvest to university staff. Initially, he produced 20 to 30 kilogrammes a week, selling out consistently. Though returns were modest, the additional RM400 to RM500 a month strengthened his resolve to manage the entire process, from preparation to harvest.
Read more at Bernama TV
