Cameron Organic Farm Visit

Looking down from the farm

What else to do in Cameron Highlands? Would you love to visit an organic vegetable farm? Yes, we love to and we did that the last trip there. We were really eager to visit one as we had never stepped into any farms in our lives. I wrote to Mr. Lee Ong Sing (the Managing Director of Cameron Organic Produce) and we got his reply within two weeks. The farm tour was free of charge and he was more than happy to share his knowledge with us. He stressed that he was doing this because he wanted more people to know about organic vegetable farming and how organic vegetables can boost our health. In addition, it can also help to reduce global warming as less animal food is needed to feed the poultry.

The farm was located after the Sam Poh Temple in Brinchang. The road leading to the farm was a little steep and small. He actually led us there in his car.

A short introduction of Cameron Organic Produce (COP): This company was started by a group of Cameron Highlands farmers and Mr. Lee is also a farmer. They got together and marketed their organic vegetables under this brand; COP. Yes, you can get this brand of organic vegetables even in Penang and also other states in Malaysia. They wanted to sell their vegetables directly to their customers instead of through middlemen.

Mr Lee showing us the banner of the program where he learned how to make organic compost 

The organic certification from Malaysia costs them RM10,000 and this certification is only valid in Malaysia. He told us that he learned how to make compost from a Japanese Professor some time ago. He needed the compost to plant vegetables. The compost was made up of all natural stuff such as sugar cane waste/fibre, long grasses (lalang), vegetable waste, melon, enzyme and rice bran. The compost would be ready to use only after three months. He needed to turn them over every week. We had the chance to touch and feel the compost. Don't worry, it was not smelly at all as we had imagined. Surprisingly, it felt warm.

The compost (close-up view)

The shed where the he made the compost

We also saw the nursery where young vegetables were grown before they were moved to the big farm. The young vegetables would remain in the nursery for about 20 days.

The nursery

The nursery was on a lower and flat ground. Then, we climbed up the slope and there was the vegetable farm. There were some vegetables which could only be found in Cameron Highlands. Okay, I am not sure of their English names but they looked like in the photos below. So, make sure you order these vegetables where you are in any of the Chinese restaurants there. Yes, they taste good. There was also the dragon beard vegetable (chayote) which you can only find in Cameron Highlands. Try this too!

This is the vegetable that you should try!

The dragon beard vegetable

The thing about organic vegetables is that you can eat them straight from the plant. Mr. Lee plucked the Japanese cucumber and let us try. It was sweet and juicy. We also saw a worker harvesting the vegetables. Wow! It sure looked easy. In less than five minutes, he had harvested a lot (as in the photo).

The Japanese cucumber that we tasted

Harvesting vegetables

Later, he went on to show us the stream where he got the water for the vegetables. We walked to another section of the farm where he wanted to show us how he made the organic fertilizer. So, that's why their vegetables are definitely safe to eat.

The stream: the water supply for the farm

The formula to make the organic fertilizer: molasses, chicken droppings, fish waste, soya waste, charcoal, corn waste, enzyme with the compost. It would take ten days for it to be ready to use. He also needed to turn them over on daily basis.

Organic fertilizer making in progress

If the oil in the bottle solidifies, then the fertilizer is ready to be used (as it  is cold enough)

He also talked about some of the challenges he faced as an organic farmer.
a. As he was not using pesticides for the vegetables, he used other ways such as crop rotation on the same plot of land to prevent pests. The number of pests will eventually reduce as they may not like certain vegetables. He also combined planting two types of crop together. This will also hinder the attack of pest.

Do you notice there are two types of vegetables planted together? This is to reduce pests. 

b. He also needed to handle customer complaint of his vegetables. He had received complaints such as the vegetables had no worm holes (Yes, funny complaint!) or the vegetables were yellowish (The truth is they are yellowish because of lack of sunshine in the rainy season).

c. Organic farming does not receive much support from the government.

d. Financially, the organic farmers are not very well-off even though the organic vegetables are sold three times more expensive than the non-organics.

e. Do you know that the farmers work very hard throughout the night to pack the vegetables and deliver them to shops and markets by dawn? Kudos to them!

Finally, we reached the most beautiful part of the organic farm where we could see all the more mature vegetables. We also learned that one acre of land to set up the facility cost RM250,000 and those lands have TOL status. The farmers need to pay the rent yearly.

The farm 

In short, this visit is very educational and indeed eye-opening. Go and see for yourself. You can easily call Mr Lee and make an appointment to visit his farm. His mobile phone number can be located in Cameron Organic Produce website (http://www.cameronorganic.com.my/contact-us).