KOTA KINABALU: More youths in Sabah, including graduates who have lost their jobs in the city due to the Covid-19 pandemic, are turning to farming to make a living.A family of 12 in Kota Belud district is among them.
Euseclara Suah, 24, who completed her diploma in communications at Universiti Malaysia Sabah last year, said it is tough to find a job in the city due to the current economic situation.
Fresh is best: Laindey taking a bite of the pak choi he planted in Keningau, which are ready to be harvested.
“Instead of wasting my time looking for work, I decided to return to my village in Kota Belud to help out with farming for the time being, ” she said.
She said the family’s latest venture is ginger farming.
Helping her parents Helin Koyoh, 55, and Suah Ginsui, 54, are her nine brothers and sisters aged between 12 and 29.
“We are happy to be able to do this as a family, to earn a living to feed ourselves, ” Euseclara said, adding that she hopes to pursue her dream of becoming a lecturer later on.
Her brother Make, 29, who used to be a gadget technician in the city, also returned home last year after the first wave of Covid-19 hit.
“I really loved being in the city but due to the worsening economy, I had to let go my job, ” he said.
He added that he gets to spend more time with his parents and siblings when working on the farm.
Make advised youths in a similar predicament to “dare and start farming”.
“Even if you are not interested in it or don’t know what to do, your parents will have the knowledge.
“Anything you want to know is also just a click away, ” he said.
Immigration officer Laindey Limpuong from interior Keningau is spending more time planting vegetables, corn, padi and flowers to earn extra income.
The 32-year-old father of two said although he and his hotel manager wife still have their jobs, the pandemic affected their overtime earnings and other allowances.
“Many times, due to the MCO, we are also required to work from home.
“My wife was also asked to take a break from work, ” he added.
He said the family shares the harvest with their relatives and extras are sold.
“We should not just sit idle and not do anything to help ourselves, ” he said.
