KOTA BELUD: Agri-entrepreneur Magret Darusin has embraced the Merdeka spirit to revive cocoa cultivation in her village community, aiming to lift her community out of poverty.
Magret, a 55-year-old native of Kampung Tambatuon, is determined to share her fortune with the villagers through various initiatives she has undertaken.
Starting with organic padi that produces red rice and other crops, Magret diversified her portfolio into cocoa cultivation, which is then processed into cocoa nibs.
The mother of six believes in fostering a strong team spirit to improve morale, enhance productivity, and create a positive work environment. With this strategy, she mobilised the villagers, including housewives, to revive the cocoa cultivation they once pursued.
"So far, our village has been cultivating cocoa. There are 18 farmers actively planting cocoa, including myself. Currently, I have only 300 cocoa trees and can produce up to 100kg each harvest," she told Bernama.
Cocoa fruits are usually harvested in May and December each year.
Kampung Tambatuon, located at the foot of Mount Kinabalu, is 32km from Kota Belud town and 71km from Kota Kinabalu.
Known as a tourist destination, most of its residents are farmers cultivating organic rice, cocoa, rubber, pineapples, and black pepper.
Sharing further, Magret said cocoa cultivation in her village began in 2012 but halted due to a downturn in commodity prices.
"Due to the low prices of cocoa at the time, we were discouraged from pursuing our efforts, so we abandoned our plantations until it turned into a jungle," she shared.
However, the presence of the Sabah Social Entrepreneurship Association (Sosea) in the village in 2018 opened a new chapter for Magret and other cocoa farmers.
They were given entrepreneurship courses and guidance to revive their previously neglected cocoa plantations.
Convinced of the cocoa industry’s potential based on Sosea's explanation, Magret obtained a licence to process wet cocoa beans from the Malaysian Cocoa Board (LKM), allowing her to buy wet cocoa beans from other farmers. She offered competitive prices compared to other processors to boost the spirit of cocoa farmers.
"I did that because I didn't want them to lose their drive to plant cocoa. It's okay for me to buy it at a higher price because I will find other initiatives to break even.
"I am also a farmer. If the price is low, it's not worth it as the income earned does not match the effort," she said.
To attract residents, especially housewives, towards the cocoa industry, Magret diversified the commodity into products such as cocoa powder, chocolate bars, and cocoa nibs, which are sold to a private chocolate company and individuals.
"We involve housewives so they can generate income and subsequently help improve their family’s economy," she said.
She also hopes to realise her dream of turning the village into a cocoa producer while working towards building her own chocolate brand. This endeavour is expected to materialise soon when a mini chocolate factory, developed with assistance from Bank Islam, is completed.
Looking ahead, Magret plans to add approximately 2,000 more cocoa trees, spanning an area of about 2ha. She is also determined to strengthen youth involvement in her village within the next two years.
"The role of youth is essential because if we don't engage them, who will continue this effort to develop the cocoa industry?" she noted, adding that several initiatives have already been launched, including the organisation of chocolate-making courses.
When asked about her motivation, Magret responded, "I have a natural love for helping the community. When I do this, it allows farmers, mothers, and housewives to feel valued, knowing they are needed and can contribute while also generating income. In fact, the entire village feels like one big family, living harmoniously, united, and always helping each other."
Magret expressed her gratitude to LKM, Sosea, and other NGOs such as Yayasan Hasanah, which have provided significant assistance through training, machinery, and funding, enabling them to make greater strides in the cocoa industry. — Bernama
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