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Zainudin Zakaria, The Man Behind Your Corn-In-A-CupSeptember 18, 2006 12:48 PM
Zainudin Zakaria, The Man Behind Your Corn-In-A-Cup
By Ibrahim Abu Bakar
KUALA TERENGGANU, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Zainudin Zakaria is neither a political figure nor a celebrity.
But the 52-year-old from Kampung Pulau Rusa, near here, is the first Malay entrepreneur to supply corn kernels for the corn-in-a-cup traders in Terengganu and Selangor.
When met recently by Bernama at his corn field in Serating, Marang, Zainudin said the venture which began in 2005 was being managed by his third son, Mohd Amir Hafiz, 23, and his son-in-law, Rosmansham Alias, 28, both overseas graduates.
"I am grateful that my son and son-in-law are helping me on a full-time basis as I travel often to Kuala Lumpur to manage my other company there," he said.
Zainudin said through his company, Arus Zaman Sdn Bhd, a construction and development firm in Putrajaya, he formed a subsidiary known as Cosmopal Sdn Bhd which specialised in cultivating corn and goat-breeding in Serating.
Zainudin began with a start-up capital of RM500,000 and a 25-hectare corn field in Serating to supply corn kernels go the corn-in-a-cup vendors.
He has been planting a corn variety from Taiwan and this enterprising man is also processing the leaves and the discarded cornstalks into fodder for goats.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTHS
Zainuddin said his business had created job opportunities for 23 people, particularly youths in Terengganu and Selangor. He has branded the corn as "Jagung Manis Adam".
He also hires seven poor folks from Taman Rahmat in Marang to do fertilising, harvesting and packaging work.
Zainudin said Cosmopal supplied the corn kernels through 13 suppliers in Terengganu and nine in Selangor. However, currently he does not have enough corn to meet the increasing demand.
"Soon, we will add another 20 hectares of corn field to meet the increasing demand," he disclosed.
Zainudin said currently Cosmopal's field at Serating could only produce 2.5 tonnes of corn from every three hectares.
He said each trader would be supplied with 40-60kg of corn kernels a week but during festivities the figure would be 20-30kg per day priced at RM7.50 per kg.
The traders will then steam the corn kernels and fill them in polystyrene cups to be sold to the public.
"It's a simple business that doesn't require big capital, yet promises good returns," said Zainudin.
CHALLENGES
He said Cosmopal planned to expand the business to Kelantan, Pahang and Negri Sembilan so that more unemployed youths could earn a living by selling the steamed corn.
On problems related to his business, he said Cosmopal had to compete with long-established producers.
Another problem is that electricity has yet to be channelled to his corn field in Serating and this is why the harvested corn after being packed has to be taken to his house about 40km away to be stored before being distributed to suppliers.
The poor road condition also makes it difficult to transport the corn out of the field.
GOAT-BREEDING
On goat-breeding, he said Cosmopal had built three enclosures to accommodate 440 goats at any one time.
He said the breeds were of high quality and imported such as the Jamnapari and Boer and the mixed breed of local goats with the Jamnapari.
Zainudin said through this commercial venture, Cosmopal aimed to help the Terengganu government make the state the largest mutton producer in the country by 2008.
Cosmopal is confident that with technical assistance from the government departments, especially the Terengganu Veterinary Services Department, it could emerge as the main supplier of mutton in the future.
-- BERNAMA
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