KOTA KINABALU: What began as an “accidental” purchase at a local market has blossomed into one of Sabah’s most inspiring agricultural success stories.
Jason Lee Nyuk Soon, a trained accountant, never planned to become a breeder. He stumbled into livestock farming purely by chance.
More than a decade later, he is being celebrated across the nation after clinching the prestigious Anugerah Perdana and Anugerah Penternak Jaya, winning RM60,000 and RM20,000, respectively.
He received both awards from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen’s Day 2025 celebrations here on Sunday.
Sharing his journey, Lee said he was visiting a weekly tamu (traditional marketplace) in Kota Belud in 2014, merely to see what was available.
He came across an elderly couple trying to sell a pair of goats.
“They said they needed money urgently, so I bought the animals. The next day, the couple called and sold me another pair,” said the 49-year-old.
At the time, Lee kept the goats as a hobby behind his parents’ house in Kg Tombovo, Putatan, using simple fencing and infrastructure.
But as the herd grew, so did his interest and commitment.
He built more shelters and began learning breeding techniques from scratch.
His hard work paid off by the third year, when he recovered his initial RM500,000 investment.
Encouraged by the results, he expanded operations to nearby Kg Duvanson, where he now runs a larger facility complete with staff quarters, a feed processing plant and training rooms.
One of Lee’s most innovative moves was introducing vermicomposting by using earthworms to convert goat waste into organic fertiliser.
“We used to sell raw manure at RM10 for a 20kg bag. Now, we sell the vermicompost at RM5 per kg,” he said, adding that he can produce up to five tonnes of the organic compost each month.
The fertiliser is now used by durian and avocado farmers throughout Sabah.
Remarkably, worm farming now contributes nearly 50% of his Borneo Integrated Farm’s total income.
Today, Lee’s farms boast a range of activities – goat, deer and fruit farming as well as vermicomposting, fish breeding and cold storage facilities.
He has also set up cold storage outlets in Putatan and Keningau, selling fresh goat’s milk, meat and other locally produced goods.
Controlling the entire chain from farm to table, he said, ensures quality, freshness and better returns for the hard work.
Lee’s farms also employ odour-control techniques such as fermented silage feeding to minimise smells, which is important as the facilities are located near residential areas.
Despite his success, the journey has not been without setbacks.
Lee said his farms had been hit by floods multiple times, with the most recent incident occurring in February.
Yet, he remains undeterred.
“Farming is about resilience. Yes, we had losses, but with some government assistance and a lot of hard work, we bounced back,” he said.
For Lee, the key to success lies in what he calls the three Ps – patience, passion and perseverance.
Although he did not pursue a career in his field of study, Lee said his accounting background has been invaluable in managing finances and growing the business sustainably.
“Cash flow is king. You need to reinvest wisely, track your spending and avoid leaking money,” he added.
Lee said he hopes his story can shift mindsets and encourage more young people to explore careers in agriculture.
He also attributed his success to his wife, family and God for their support and guidance.
