Malaysian Farmer Finds Success with Guavas

Why this is here: Lee’s farm currently produces between eight and ten tonnes of fruit each week, targeting an increase to fifteen tonnes per harvest to meet growing demand.

Lee, a 64-year-old farmer in Tapah, Perak, Malaysia, now cultivates premium guavas after previous agricultural ventures failed. He initially turned to farming to reduce debt after working in contracting. Early attempts with pandan coconuts and papaya trees faced setbacks from beetles and unsuitable soil, costing him roughly RM60,000.

In 2019, a contact from Taiwan introduced Lee to the Pearl guava. He partnered with three business partners and now manages over 40 hectares of leased land. The farm grows several guava varieties alongside 350,000 pineapple plants, using modern systems to monitor growing conditions.

Demand for the farm’s produce is increasing, supplying Kuala Lumpur supermarkets and hotels with eight to ten tonnes weekly. Though the business hopes to reach 15 tonnes per harvest, they currently lose about one tonne of fruit each week due to cosmetic defects. Lee is exploring options for processing this imperfect fruit into juice and supplements.