Meet the Malaysian ‘agropreneurs’ growing S$200 Japanese muskmelons
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Run into the Malaysian 'agropreneurs' growing Southward$200 Japanese muskmelons
In Putrajaya, iii Malaysian farmers have perfected growing prized Japanese muskmelons, one of the world's nigh expensive fruit, using a system they devised afterward 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 before the pandemic. (Photograph: Mono Premium Melon)
17 Jun 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 09 Aug 2022 11:58AM)
The Japanese muskmelon and its eye-watering prices have long been the stuff of desire and incredulity. Like Kobe beef, these melons are pampered and bred with meticulous intendance to ensure each fruit is the ideal platonic 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 subcontract under the brand, Mono Premium Melon, growing these prized fruits.
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Seh, an expert in hydroponics and fertiliser, Sofian, an agriculture engineer, and Yeo, who specialises in agrochemical and pest and disease management, have many years of agronomics industry backgrounds nether their corresponding belts.
They had been growing melons for more than 10 years merely with their combined expertise, recently discovered the correct combination of technologies to exist able to grow this notoriously finicky crop successfully, even in a tropical environment.
"Due to COVID-19, we can't travel out of the country, including Nippon, so we decided to bring a bit of Nippon to Malaysia." – Seh Cheng Siang
"We chose the proper name Mono as it comes from the Japanese phrase Mono-No Enlightened – which means that beauty is subjective, and it'south our sensitivity to the world around us that makes it cute. In particular, the transience of the physical world and our awareness that beauty is impermanent makes us capeesh it more," explained Seh.
While the inspiration for the proper name came from a poetic identify, the impetus backside setting upward Mono Premium Melon came from a desire to convince Malaysians that growing a prestige crop like muskmelons was non impossible.
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"We've met many proficient local growers that can grow proficient quality local fruits just they don't have the know-how and platform to market it properly to the end-user," said Seh. "As such, we set up Mono as a way to showcase to Malaysia that we could use a B2C business organisation model to reach terminate-users direct, making sure that our produce reaches them in the way that we would like to nowadays."
Extensive research was done on various types of Japanese melons beforehand to notice a variety that was suitable in terms of oestrus tolerance, disease resistance, eating quality and appearance. After many rounds of testing with seeds exclusively imported from Japan, the Arus multifariousness was chosen because it worked best in Malaysian weather condition and the trio's smart planting organization.
"Nosotros received lots of positive and encouraging feedback on the growing and fruit quality. We were as well surprised to be contacted past some VIPs who were interested in what nosotros were doing." – Seh Cheng Siang
This system is a combination of an Autopot hydroponics system, a Nido Internet of Things (IoT) Controller, and several technical practices. The Autopot hydroponics organization is a "plant-driven" watering and feeding system which delivers precise amounts with zero run-off, while the Nido Controller is used for the management and monitoring of pH, temperature, h2o level and humidity, to proper name but a few – all of which can be monitored from a smartphone.
The technical practices are where things go less technical, ironically. For starters, the melons are "serenaded" with specially composed music with binaural beats and isochronic tones to stimulate growth. The melons are as well regularly polished with a soft cloth or glove, a practice called tama-fuki, to enhance their flavor and encourage the forming of the distinctive internet-like pattern found on the melon's skin.
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Since Mono Premium Melon was ready, they've harvested their ingather one time in Apr this year and the 200 melons, which were marketed online, were sold out. The melons sold for RM168 (S$54) each, which is about a third of the price the Japanese varieties commonly go for. In Singapore, prices range from S$150 to S$200 for a single melon at specialty grocers and Japanese supermarkets.
The "agropreneurs" were delighted at the fizz their melons acquired and believe they managed to bear witness that local growers can produce adept quality fruits.
"We received lots of positive and encouraging feedback on the growing and fruit quality. We were as well surprised to be contacted by some VIPs who were interested in what we were doing," Seh said with a smiling.
At the moment, Mono Premium Melon is focussing on the Malaysian market with an eye to working together with local restaurants that share their same behavior, although they are also open to export if there's an opportunity to practise then.
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For a fledgling enterprise, Seh reveals that while the COVID-xix pandemic has been hugely challenging to the industry, the trio take taken information technology equally an opportunity instead.
"Because of COVID-nineteen, the supply chain and value concatenation between grower and cease-user is getting closer. This ways that growers tin can get in impact 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 annihilation properly is a cardinal bespeak and that's the communication I would also give new 'agropreneurs'. As well to think out of the box." – Seh Cheng Siang
Indeed, the trio'south positivity is fuelled past the back up of their corresponding families, whom they cite every bit their inspiration. They attribute their achievements in growing muskmelons successfully to assertive in themselves and laying the proper groundwork for the endeavour.
"Starting anything properly is a key point and that's the advice I would as well give new 'agropreneurs'," said Seh. "Also to think out of the box. For case, if we were to accept done anything differently in this enterprise, nosotros would play amend music for our melons, like some unplugged or alive band music. Seriously!"
As 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 consequent supply. They also hope that Mono will inspire many young or new "agropreneurs", not to mention bring some joy to their boyfriend Malaysians: "Due to COVID-19, we tin't travel out of the country, including Japan, so nosotros decided to bring a bit of Nihon to Malaysia."
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/mono-premium-melons-malaysia-japanese-muskmelons-249841
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