Rewarding Boon From Banana Farming

A 73-year-old banana farmer is earning big. Mat Nawi Mamat, based in Kampung Kuala Balah, Malaysia, makes over RM60,000(USD13,700 approx.) each season.

His secret? He grows more than 2,000 banana trees on his four-hectare farm. With 20 years in banana farming, Mat Nawi cultivates popular varieties like 'nangka' and 'berangan.' He harvests them every six months and sells them to wholesalers within and beyond Kelantan.

Banana farming, he says, is reliable due to stable prices and high demand, with basic needs like water, sunlight, and fertilizers keeping the crops healthy.

Once a banana trader in the 1980s, Mat Nawi started growing his supply when sourcing became difficult, making him a major producer in his region.

Now, he handles deliveries himself, using a truck or 4WD to reach customers.

Mat Nawi, who has six children and 23 grandchildren, spends time each day tending to his plantation, finding that the work also keeps him active and healthy.

He encourages younger people to explore agriculture, highlighting its income potential and its role in boosting the country’s farming sector.