What started as 50 orders for Sungai Gulang-Gulang coconut seedlings (SGG CN16) grew into demand for 1,210 within five months.
For Tukiran Sharji, 61, the surge in orders came after he was selected in January to join the Sejahtera Komuniti Madani (SejaTi Madani) programme – an initiative providing funding and support to rebuild seedling production facilities and expand market access.
“Before this, I could only sell on a small scale. But after receiving the assistance, demand poured in from buyers in Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu, and even Sabah.
“For the second phase, I’m now preparing almost 1,600 more seedlings, which are expected to be delivered by early November,” the coconut farmer told FMT.
The SGG CN16 coconut is a hybrid variety first cultivated in Kampung Sungai Gulang-Gulang in Tanjong Karang, Selangor. It has become a top choice among growers nationwide due to its unique traits: a shorter trunk, thicker flesh, and sweeter water.
Tukiran said caring for the seedlings was not as simple as it looked, as each plant takes about four months to mature before it can be sold.
“The process requires watering twice a day, regular fertilisation, and protection against squirrels and rats,” he said.
Kampung Sungai Gulang-Gulang village security and development committee chairman Zamri Kahar said a RM100,000 grant under the SejaTi Madani project had enabled the community to build fencing and storage facilities, purchase fertiliser, and set up promotional signboards.
He said the effort paid off as the village’s coconut products broke into the local market, generating profits of around RM25,000 during the first phase which began in January, with buyers ranging from smallholders to major companies such as Felcra.
“The SejaTi Madani programme not only creates job opportunities for locals but also serves as a platform for community engagement.
“Through the SGG CN16 coconut project, we’ve also collaborated with youth groups involved in coconut production and coconut businesses, fostering unity through regular meetings and cooperative efforts,” he said.
Zamri added that with the grant, the community also plans to diversify into downstream industries such as the manufacturing of products made from coconut husks and leaves.
Last year, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the SejaTi Madani initiative aimed to empower communities through socioeconomic development activities and would eventually involve all villages nationwide.
A total of RM1 billion was allocated by the government for the initiative under the 2025 budget.
