While most fresh SPM grads chase office jobs or head off to college, Muhammad Qayyum Zunkurnain, 24, from Kuala Kangsar, decided to do something different, and it’s paying off big time.

Instead of going down the “traditional career” path, Qayyum went back to the land. Inspired by his father’s experience in agriculture, he rented a 3.2-hectare plot and started planting papayas and bananas.

24 Muhammad Qayyum Zunkurnain from Kuala Kangsar earns RM13,000 monthly by farming papayas and bananas
Muhammad Qayyum Zunkurnain from Kuala Kangsar earns RM13,000 monthly by farming papayas and bananas.
Image credit: @mydoa_hq (Instagram)

“I began selling papayas and bananas after finishing my SPM, but I quickly realized that there wasn’t enough supply to meet demand. That’s when I decided to start my own farm,” he shared.

From 1,000 trees to thousands more

At first, he planted 1,000 trees using his savings. Fast forward to today, Qayyum manages 3,000 papaya trees and 4,000 banana trees. His monthly earnings? Around RM13,000. That’s on par (or even better) than what many fresh grads are earning in corporate jobs.

He drew on his own experience and his father's inspiration to start his farming journey after completing his SPM
He drew on his own experience and his father’s inspiration to start his farming journey after completing his SPM.
Image credit: @mydoa_hq (Instagram)

Of course, not everyone was convinced at the start. Some people around him didn’t take farming seriously, thinking it wasn’t a “prestigious” career. But now? His success has actually inspired other youths to join him and learn the ropes. He also credits support from groups like the Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan Senggang & Manong, the Perak State Agriculture Department, and FAMA for helping him along the way.

Why papayas & bananas?

Turns out, Qayyum had a smart reason for choosing papayas and bananas. According to the Department of Agriculture, papayas are super popular, especially with older folks who love them for their digestive health benefits. They also grow pretty fast, usually ready for harvest in six to seven months, which helps bring in income while waiting for slower-growing bananas to mature.

Qayyum hopes to expand his business by creating value-added products from his papayas and bananas
Despite initial skepticism about being a farmer, he has now become highly successful in his field .
Image credit: @mydoa_hq (Instagram)

“Papaya farming is relatively easy because Malaysia only has rainy and dry seasons. During the rainy season, papayas tend to produce more buds and mature quickly, which means longer harvesting periods,” he explained.

Success doesn’t come with challenges

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing though. Hot weather can sometimes affect production, making it tough to keep up with demand. Still, his fruits are always in demand at markets across Perak, Penang, and Selangor.

Despite initial skepticism about being a farmer, he has now become highly successful in his field
Qayyum hopes to expand his business by creating value-added products from his papayas and bananas.
Image credit: @mydoa_hq (Instagram)

Qayyum isn’t stopping here. He’s already looking into creating value-added products from papayas and bananas with things like snacks or processed goods to further grow his business. From a small savings-fueled start to a thriving farm, Qayyum’s story shows that farming isn’t just “old-fashioned work”, it can actually be a smart, sustainable, and profitable career.

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