26-28 august, 2010
kuala kangsar, perak
puasa time and we're at our first location filming the pilot episode of agro-xplorasi...
built in 1930...kuala kangsar clock tower roundabout stumbled across syamille agro farm after browsing through hundreds of online articles, blogs and websites as part of the research work during the initial stage of this project. throughout almost 15 years working in advertising, this is the first time working on the topic of agriculture. a nice change from the usual fmcg, telcos, financial, property, etc. just from research alone, you will be surprised how thriving the agriculture industry is. there are so many activities goin' on that we are not aware of. but of all the farms, plantations, ranches, fish ponds, etc. that i've clicked and browsed...i could sensed something intriguing and different about this particular place. firstly, it is not only your ordinary goat farm but is also a mini zoo, a (private) resort and a training centre all rolled into one.
in those days, only 'orang kuale' can make direct call to london (ye ke ni?) secondly, the location; the farm is located quite secluded inside kg. chuar hulu in kati near kuala kangsar. to find it also is quite tricky as only a small red signage indicates where you should drop off from the main road. if you miss it … well, find it at your own peril. from the small junction you have to drive through slowly in-between kampong houses and shrubbery before finally arriving at the farm gateway. the effect of being in the vicinity for the first time is like...you are suddenly been transported to another world or dimension. it's a real eye opener...rub your eyes, pinch your arm...well do what you want, it is real! from afar, you could hear goats hollerin' n yappin' from the pens. the smell surprisingly is very mild...
apart from these deers, u can also find porcupines, peacocks, mousedeer, jungle fowl and many other small critters here apart from what is being featured in the actual TV program, there are two even more fascinating behind-the-scene stories about the farm and the owner. the 12 acre farm was not even supposed to be a farm in the first place. the land was bought initially to be used as a site to build and run a ‘tahfiz’. this was around the time after the al ma’unah confrontation (in 2000) in sauk which is not that far away from kati. imagine the reactions from the kampong folks towards this bunch of city people upon hearing that they are going to study/teach religious matters inside a jungle! oh no! not another group of islamic militant (depending on how you judge and perceive al ma'unah)! skeptics, prejudices, resistance and animosity shown finally saw the idea being abandoned as the situation escalated from bad to worse…yes, it was that serious at that time.
...the big red signage
so, few years down the road (in 2005), syamille agro farm was born. the idea of running a 'tahfiz' abandoned at that time, yes but forgotten...no. being postponed is a more appropriate way of putting it. this man's will and desire has not wilted. he won't be denied...it cannot just disappear into the thin air because it is a struggle which he feels that he simply has to do, no matter what. he's not doing it for himself. he's doing it for the love of his one and only child, syamille who he wants to nurture to become a ‘hafiz’. SUBHANALLAH! for he firmly believes that his son will be better prepared and equipped to make it in ‘dunia’ and in ‘akhirat’ only if he mastered the vast knowledge of the holy Quran. something no wealth, tons of cash, power or properties which he owns can guarantee. INSYA ALLAH! something which many of us muslims nowadays tend not to agree with...
the future looks bright and promising here now that the farm has proven a success and the kampong folks have begun to show certain degree of acceptance (though very slowly) about their presence there, he’s now working to integrate both the farm and the ‘tahfiz’ to exist together. he has slowly started building dorms and other amenities within the farm area to welcome and house future ‘hafiz’ there. his vision has somewhat widen…not only for his own bloodline but for the benefit of all ummah; his way of carrying out his 'fardhu kifayah'...producing food that is halal and thoyyib for muslims and non-muslims alike. he wants to do it in his own way..."no need la jakim certification, i'm doing it and overseeing everything myself. i trust myself than i trust them..." his own interpretation of islamic manufacturing practice (IMP).
breakfast cereal anyone?! the ever so friendly and noisy boer goat...just luv them smelly thing! he wants to complete the full food production cycle…based on syariah (and science). among other things is to prioritize on cleanliness in and around the farm and the pens, sourcing and feeding only halal animal feeds and nourishments to the livestock, treating animals with more respect during slaughter (with expert advise from a master butcher partner), employing cooks at the restaurant who perform prayers 5 times a day, utilizing and benefitting all natural resources (zero waste management), etc.
(left) constantly moving forward to improve and strive to be a better muslims. (right) creativity at work...villa, offices, chalets, surau, lecture halls, shacks and many other buildings here in syamille agro farm are built using wooden planks salvaged from old railway tracks. here they believe nothing should go to waste. everything has its value if you can see it with your senses. by recycling you save money so that you can make more money. it's also artistically commercial or commercially artistic...whichever way you look at it. 
agriculture is a business...a very good profitable business and an ibadah too in a nutshell, this is a story of one man’s (and few other friends) noble vision to establish profitable and syariah-based business, producing new breed of livestock breeders and cooks who are also ‘hafiz’…constantly performing zikr praising Allah The Almighty while going about doing their daily chores be it in the farm, in the kitchen or in the office, Insya Allah giving more ‘barakah’ and hopefully eliminating ‘shubhah’ in what we the ummah have been consuming everyday in our life. a step at a time, we must go back and take the true path of life….Insya Allah.
the official agro-xplorasi profile
mohd zainuri mohd idrus
Berlatarbelakangkan karier dalam bidang kejuruteraan, beliau kini semakin giat mengembangkan cabang perniagaannya yang berasaskan pertanian bermula sekitar tahun 2005 yang berkonsepkan ‘from farm to fork’.
Dengan memaksimakan keluasan kawasan hanya 12 ekar yang terletak di Kati, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, beliau berjaya membuka sebuah kompleks pelancongan tani dengan membahagikannya kepada tiga zon iaitu zon pertama bagi ladang penternakan dan pemeliharaan baka kambing serta ternakan lembu termasuk stor makanan, pusat penghasilan baja kompos dan kolam kumbahan. Zon kedua pula menempatkan kemudahan seperti rumah penginapan, surau, taman rekreasi dan pejabat manakala zon ketiga adalah kawasan penanaman rumput bagi makanan ternakan.
Ladang ini juga merupakan antara ladang terawal dipilih menjadi Ladang Pengganda Kambing Boer MARDI dan telah berjaya membiakkan ternakan kambing yang pada mulanya hanya berjumlah kira-kira 350 ekor kepada 1,350 ekor.
Bagi melengkapkan kitaran perniagaannya, beliau membuka The Butcher@Syamille yang merupakan restoran serta outlet jualan produk berasaskan daging kambing serta lembu yang kini mempunyai dua buah cawangan di Subang Jaya dan Ampang, Selangor. Memandangkan permintaan pasaran yang semakin meningkat, beliau telah mengorak langkah lebih jauh lagi dengan pembukaan ladang ternakan lembu yang baru seluas 50 ekar di Perlis.
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