The life of a farmer may not be for everyone but for Johanes Jok, it is not just a job but also a source of inspiration.
He is inspired by the knowledge that he is able to develop his land for something useful and productive, as well as being able to help his family financially through farming.
“But most important for me personally is when I see our produce being sold. When I go to the market and actually see the people buying what I planted.
“That is when I feel a sense of gratefulness for being able to do what I do, because I am able to contribute to society; to provide food to people,” he said.
Johanes, who has been involved in agriculture for the past three years, plants vegetable crops at his farm in Kuala Baram Miri, with the support of the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA).
For him, life as a farmer revolves around starting early each day to check on the crops and making sure they’re free from pests and diseases.
He’s also involved in preparations for harvesting, which involves tagging and selecting the crops to be harvested for the day.
“We usually harvest our crops around noontime and after we’re done we would bring our produce to the wholesaler.”
Johanes believes that if you are considering a career as a farmer, you should possess one critical quality – you have to be hardworking.
Apart from that, he also believes that dedication and commitment are also important traits to succeed as a farmer.
For the youth out there who might be thinking of giving agriculture a go, Johanes says they should keep at it as there are plenty of opportunities in this sector.
“In agriculture and farming, there are many opportunities out there, so don’t stop searching.
“If you feel you lack the experience or knowledge to become a good farmer, there’s always the Internet where you can source for the information that you need. On sites such as YouTube, you can learn all sorts of useful things, including methods of planting and farming.”
As with all endeavours in life, Johanes believes that if you are willing to put in the effort and dedicate your life to farming, it can be a rewarding career.
“At the end of the day, where there’s a will, there’s always a way.”
You can catch the video interview with Johanes on the SarawakYES! YouTube channel or the SarawakYES! Facebook page.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
This article first appeared on The Borneo Post, visit this link: http://bit.ly/2eH1EX0
