Malaysia: Urban gardening as home income generator

In the year 2020, the Malaysian Department of Statistics revised upwards the Poverty Line Income, meaning to say that a higher percentage of the population nationally as well as within Sabah, is now recognised as grovelling in absolute poverty

By Eskay Ong
Daily Express
April 04, 2021

Excerpt:

That so many people have jumped into growing and selling plants is just plain sense of business and need. One may call it urban gardening, city farming, urban agriculture or urban cultivation, but the bottom line remains the same, that is, it is about being able to cultivate and harvest some returns such as vegetables, flowers, fruits, ornamentals, aesthetics, or to extract some pecuniary benefits.

As a matter of fact, there was a commercial brand name of tomato known as Moneymaker which I grew many years ago, and which, sadly, was not taken advantage of from the business angle. The yield was simply fantastic and so abundant, so much so that neighbours and many friends were given loads and loads of the large, juicy and plump fruits as neighbourly or friendly gifts free of charge.

Within urban areas, gardening has been carried out since generations ago. It is still being done today, perhaps with even more enthusiasm and fervour. Add in the latest tools and equipment, plus the incessant online information, the result is a volatile mix of unending possibilities where results are determined by creativity, hard work and zeal.

And the results are by no means insignificant as can be seen at various outlets selling plants, as well as through the internet. Where previously common plants such as Caladiums and Coleus would not raise half an eyelid as they were considered very normal and common stuffs, such plants are now fetching incredibly high prices.

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