Perak mum’s backyard hustle transforms torch ginger into serunding empire reaching Singapore, Dubai
BOTA, Aug 14 — Determined to break free from the shackles of poverty, mother of three Mariyaton Kaftiah Yusof has...
In Bota, Perak, Mariyaton Kaftiah Yusof, a 57-year-old mother of three, turned poverty into an opportunity by turning torch ginger and local herbs into a thriving business. When the Movement Control Order (MCO) limited economic activities in 2020, she began cultivating herbs on a plot of land behind her home. Unable to sell her produce locally, she innovated, transforming torch ginger into serunding (floss) and creating other snacks from locally sourced ingredients.
Starting with just RM500, Mariyaton now generates around RM6,500 in monthly sales. Her business, marketed on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok under the account @mariafelcra_, has expanded beyond local markets to reach Mesra Petronas, Shell outlets, and national agents. Notably, Felcra Berhad has incorporated her torch ginger serunding into its Sambal Street initiative for export to Brunei, Singapore, and Dubai.
Mariyaton emphasizes hiring Malaysians to support local employment, and Felcra provides various forms of assistance, including business premises worth up to RM50,000, rural entrepreneurship grants, and technical support.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
