Ngu (right) receives his prize from Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail (centre), witnessed by state Agriculture Department deputy director Dr Alvin Chai Lian Kuet (second right).
SIBU: The Agro-Based Industry (IAT) Award winner Ngu Nge Kiong has come a long way after receiving guidance and assistance from the state Agriculture Department.
The 46-year-old is in the business of processing coffee seeds and tea powder based in Sarikei.
His income for the third quarter of this year has tripled over that recorded in 2007 – prior to receiving help from the department.
“My coffee seeds are imported from Brazil, but I get them from a seller in Peninsular Malaysia.
“The seeds are processed into coffee powder in the factory and after that, they are packaged and distributed to my customers,” he told reporters when met after the state-level IAT 2017 dinner here on Sunday.
Ngu, a father of five, stressed about quality in his coffee powder. On his market, he said his products – branded under ‘Ngu Brother’ – are distributed here and to Kuching, Sarikei, Bintangor, Miri, Bintulu as well as other smaller towns across the state.
Ngu, who established his trade in 1980, disclosed that he learned many business ‘tricks’ from his father. According to him, his factory produces nearly 200 bags of coffee powder monthly – each weighing about 60kg. Ngu received RM2,500 for winning the award.
Meanwhile, Kek Lapis entrepreneur Rohayu Ahmad received the ‘Promising IAT Entrepreneur 2017 Award’, earning her RM1,500, while Jessy Keling Ngau took home RM1,000 for winning the ‘Promising IAT Entrepreneur (Rural) 2017 Award’.
The latter is engaged in a bakery business, selling items such as dry cakes and ‘keropok’ (crackers).
Dr Abdul Rahman (third left) hands over the prize to Jessy, witnessed by Chai (third right) and others.