FROM FINANCE TO FARMING: TEE'S BOLD LEAP INTO AQUAPONICS

By Kisho Kumari Sucedaram

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) – Leaving behind a decade-long career in banking for agriculture might seem like an unlikely path, but driven by passion and a quest for fulfilment, Logan Tee made the bold move.

Tee, 40, a former banker, turned his passion for gardening into a business venture in 2021 by establishing Amaneco, an aquaponics farm-cafe that integrated fish farming and hydroponic crop production.

Speaking to Bernama, he said his interest in gardening sparked during the Movement Control Order (MCO), which led him to explore aquaponics, a sustainable farming method.

“I was at a stage where my job became more about networking and corporate politics than actual learning. I wanted something more fulfilling,” Tee said, adding that he had also tried becoming a trader, but that did not work out well for him. 

Determined to make the switch despite having zero knowledge of aquaponics, Logan dedicated a full year to studying farming techniques and did some research on operating this business before taking the plunge into the industry. In 2021, Tee and his partner started on a modest 6,000-square-foot farm in Bukit Jalil and moved to a larger space in Kajang in 2023, which encompassed over an acre.

Growing a variety of crops and fish

Tucked away in Kajang near Pusat Flora Cheras, Tee said Amaneco currently cultivates close to 30 varieties of leafy vegetables, including different types of lettuce, curly kale, Tuscan kale, and spinach. 

“We also have herbs such as rosemary, peppermint, basil, lemon balm and oregano, many of which are incorporated into the menu at the farm’s cafe,” he continued. 

Additionally, the farm raises three types of freshwater fish, namely edible tilapia, jade perch and ornamental koi.  “The fish are mainly sold to wholesalers and restaurants, with occasional direct sales to regular customers only,” he said. 

He explained that aquaponics farming is more sustainable as it is a recirculating water system where there is no need to keep changing water. 

Support from agriculture department 

During the journey of setting up his business, Tee said the Selangor Agriculture Department played a crucial role in helping small-scale farmers like him.  “I followed the agriculture department’s website and social media pages to look out for opportunities like lands to be offered for rental, so I applied for a few rounds for different places and eventually I was lucky enough to be given this place here in Kajang to set up the farm,” he revealed. 

He said the government has been proactive in supporting agriculture through grants, including the Young Agropreneur Grant, which was recently increased to RM30,000 from RM20,000 while extending the age limit of eligibility to 43 years.

He also acknowledged the broader efforts by the government to revive Malaysia’s agricultural industry, which faces stiff competition from neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. 

“The challenge now is to attract younger generations to farming and change their perception of agriculture. I think nowadays, the youngsters are more interested in other things, so we have to try to change the perception of agriculture and get more young people to be involved in this industry,” he said. 

From finance to farming 

Moving from finance to agriculture was not without its difficulties. 

Tee admitted that the initial learning curve was steep with water quality management one of the biggest challenges.  “Aquaponics requires maintaining a delicate balance suitable for both fish and plants, hence troubleshooting the system in its first year took considerable time and effort,” he pointed out. 

Furthermore, while the greenhouse minimises the impact of external weather conditions, he said prolonged rainy periods still affect crop growth by limiting sunlight exposure.

“Fortunately, I have a good (understanding) of business planning and accounting from (my years in) the financial industry. So it helped a lot for me to run a start-up because I have to play multiple roles. Right now I am running the finance and accounting parts of the company as well,” he said.

He explained that aquaponics is a very niche industry in Malaysia and the concept is very innovative but it's commercially quite challenging.

Looking ahead, Tee said he and his business partner plan to fully develop the remaining two-thirds of the land within the next one to two years.  The plan includes expanding from leafy greens to fruit-bearing crops such as chillies, cucumbers, tomatoes, passion fruit and figs. “So the idea for our cafe is to provide a farm-to-table experience for customers.”

Beyond Kajang, Tee aspires to bring aquaponics farming to other parts of Malaysia, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and commercial viability. “Our goal is not just to grow (farm) produce but to introduce sustainable, innovative farming to a wider audience. With the right technology and government support, we hope to make aquaponics a more prominent industry in Malaysia,” Tee said.

 — BERNAMA