Ex-lecturer turns to strawberry farming
PADANG SERA (Kedah): Never in his wildest imagination did former Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer Professor Aziz Romli expect two strawberry plants that he planted a year ago to produce such good harvest and generate income.
Aziz, 59, took an interest in planting the fruit when he saw his friend’s strawberry plants.
This led him to try his hand at growing the Japan Sweet Charlie variety.
“Its cultivation and caring system are not that hard if we do it right. Furthermore, the Japan Sweet Charlie variety is easy to grow and maintain,” he said.
“Strawberry trees from low land areas are easy to take care, and their fruits are bigger and sweeter compared with those from high land, such as Cameron Highlands,” Aziz said at his farm in Kampung Kubang Menerong here.
Aziz now grows more than 1,000 strawberry plants from five varieties — Royal 80, Albyon, JB Sweet, Snow Rabbit and Japan Sweet Charlie — at his farm.
The former computer science lecturer said he was keen to help those interested in planting the fruit, especially villagers and housewives.
“This strawberry project can generate side income because of its high demand,” he said, adding that he learned the skill from friends and through reading.
He said his regular customers included those from Sabah and Sarawak.
Aziz, who retired in February, also grows 240 varieties of figs at his farm.