Cream of the affordable crop
Pangsapuri Melati residents sell produce cheaper to nearby communities, reinvest harvest proceeds into garden
A LOCAL community garden in Shah Alam, Selangor, continues to grow and contribute to neighbouring communities.
Residents of Melati Flats’ Blocks 19 and 20 in Taman Bukit Subang, Section U16, have been running the community garden since 2018.
They are now selling their harvests at a lower price to communities in the area.
In December 2022, the community garden was selected to be part of “Beyond Benih”, a programme by British American Tobacco (M) Bhd in collaboration with Agriculture Department.
Through the programme, the community garden received support including training, expertise and guidance from the department as well as funding for essential gardening tools and resources from the company.
Pangsapuri Melati Residents Association chairman Mohd Tarmizi Anuar, who is in charge of managing the garden, said they wanted to provide fresh produce at a lower price to residents in the area, the majority of whom were low-income families.
“We want to make sure that local communities have access to fresh produce.
“Some of the crops we grow include Thai chilli, water spinach, pak choy, eggplant and bitter gourd,” he said.
“Once we harvest the crops, we will let residents know through Whatsapp.
“The sales proceeds are reinvested into the garden and allocated for community use.
“The majority of the crops from the current batch have been harvested.
“The remaining crops will be offered to anyone from the community who wants it,” he added.
Mohd Tarmizi said the continuous supply of fresh produce wouldn’t have been possible without the collaborative efforts and hard work of Melati Flats residents.
“We faced many challenges while running the garden, but we pushed through.
“I hope we are able to sustain this garden and continue supplying produce to local communities,” he said.
Resident Nazelee Mansur said he enjoyed volunteering at the community garden, as his way of contributing.
“Prices of groceries are increasing, so by selling our harvests at subsidised prices, we are able to help reduce residents’ grocery expenses.
“Aside from gaining knowledge and learning new skills, I am able to make a positive impact,” he said.
Housewife Lorna Abu Samah said the initiative had been truly beneficial for her and other residents in the area.
“We are able to buy fresh produce cheaper without having to travel far,” she said.