The assessment and Training of Farmers (ToF) activities today took place at the farm of Mr. Deli, one of the Batch 2 farmers. His farm is located in a relatively remote area, 9 km from the village, but his strong dedication to farming remains unwavering.
Mr. Deli currently manages 400 pepper plants of the Petaling variety, now over one year old, planted with 1.5-meter spacing and intercropped with oil palm. The vines are supported by deadwood trellises from the forest.
He also cultivates a variety of food and horticultural crops, including banana, chili, eggplant, sweet potato, papaya, taro, pineapple, roselle, and sugarcane. However, the assessment noted several common issues in his pepper plot, such as leaf curl disease, nutrient deficiency, and caterpillar infestations.
Mr. Deli has his own pepper seedling nursery with about 150 polybags, though their condition has started to decline due to disease. Beyond farming, he maintains a range of livestock and animals including ducks, chickens, cats, and dogs, and even has a tilapia fish pond, demonstrating an integrated farming system.
He expressed interest in growing live trellis trees and learning compost-making techniques to improve soil health and farm sustainability. The visit concluded with the distribution of farmer uniforms, a shared meal at the farm, and data finalization via the Kobo system.
