A husband-and-wife team from Management and Science University (MSU) named Suhaidy Shuib and Aishah Zakariah own a 0.4-hectare indoor red claw lobster farm in Kuala Langat, Selangor.
They are the founders of Smaju Agro Venture, one of the largest one-stop indoor greenhouse hubs for red claw crayfish production in the Malaysian Peninsula, which has been running effectively for the past 11 years.
The farm is so prosperous and large that it can supply Malaysia with red claws. The farm uses an innovative watering system called the Re-Circulating Aquaculture System (RAS) to breed these pricey crayfish in more than 74 tubs.
This crayfish is officially known as Cherax quadricarinatus, although it is also referred to as a lobster or "red claw." Australia's freshwaters are a common source of it. Since it is one of the hardest fish to capture, its price is relatively higher than that of all the other shellfish. Its meat, which has a hint of sweetness, works well on platters and at buffets.
Suhaidy, the company's founder and manager of business development, started this successful company following his passion. He claimed that at first, raising different aquatic creatures like carps, minnows, and arowanas was only a hobby. He had no idea that it would become a lucrative career.
“In 2013, while conducting research, I met a tutor in Melaka who gave me advice and gave me insight into the lucrative world of lobster breeding. I then made the decision to leave my position as a civil servant and devote myself to lobster farming,” he stated.
With the assistance of their parents and family members, the couple raised 100 lobsters at home prior to starting their business.
“I started a home farm with just my savings that I already had and our parents' financial assistance. After that, I relocated to Hulu Langat and applied for a Young Agropreneur Programme grant. The Selangor Fisheries Department awarded me a grant in 2019 so that I could turn our farm into a dedicated hub for lobster breeding.
“By that, we mean we buy lobster berries and farming resources from other lobster or crayfish farmers in a way to also support their business while sourcing our logistics within the agreed market rate. We also run workshops for young agropreneurs in Malaysia through Projek Entrepreneur Ternakan Udang Kara Selangor (PETUKAR Selangor) in collaboration with the Hulu Langat Farmers Association (Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan Hulu Langat),” he said.
They have, in fact, been propelled by their passion into new possibilities and greater success. The leaders of Smaju Agro Venture are named Selangor's Best Young Agropreneur, First Runner Up.
The entrepreneur dyad are in the process of expanding their businesses. Incepting a farmhouse café with a miniature petting farm is underway. The menu focuses on all things crayfish, from buttermilk and dried chillies to butter garlic.
We at #MSUmalaysia hope their agrotourism, where people from all over the world are welcomed to visit the farmhouse to observe their breeding style, gets a phenomenal reception.
The Australian redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, was introduced in Malaysia for the aquarium and aquaculture industries in the 1980s and is now an established species in west and east Malaysia.
A husband-and-wife team from Management and Science University (MSU) named Suhaidy Shuib and Aishah Zakariah own a 0.4-hectare indoor red claw lobster farm in Kuala Langat, Selangor.
They are the founders of Smaju Agro Venture, one of the largest one-stop indoor greenhouse hubs for red claw crayfish production in the Malaysian Peninsula, which has been running effectively for the past 11 years.
The farm is so prosperous and large that it can supply Malaysia with red claws. The farm uses an innovative watering system called the Re-Circulating Aquaculture System (RAS) to breed these pricey crayfish in more than 74 tubs.
This crayfish is officially known as Cherax quadricarinatus, although it is also referred to as a lobster or "red claw." Australia's freshwaters are a common source of it. Since it is one of the hardest fish to capture, its price is relatively higher than that of all the other shellfish. Its meat, which has a hint of sweetness, works well on platters and at buffets.
Suhaidy, the company's founder and manager of business development, started this successful company following his passion. He claimed that at first, raising different aquatic creatures like carps, minnows, and arowanas was only a hobby. He had no idea that it would become a lucrative career.
“In 2013, while conducting research, I met a tutor in Melaka who gave me advice and gave me insight into the lucrative world of lobster breeding. I then made the decision to leave my position as a civil servant and devote myself to lobster farming,” he stated.
With the assistance of their parents and family members, the couple raised 100 lobsters at home prior to starting their business.
“I started a home farm with just my savings that I already had and our parents' financial assistance. After that, I relocated to Hulu Langat and applied for a Young Agropreneur Programme grant. The Selangor Fisheries Department awarded me a grant in 2019 so that I could turn our farm into a dedicated hub for lobster breeding.
“By that, we mean we buy lobster berries and farming resources from other lobster or crayfish farmers in a way to also support their business while sourcing our logistics within the agreed market rate. We also run workshops for young agropreneurs in Malaysia through Projek Entrepreneur Ternakan Udang Kara Selangor (PETUKAR Selangor) in collaboration with the Hulu Langat Farmers Association (Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan Hulu Langat),” he said.
They have, in fact, been propelled by their passion into new possibilities and greater success. The leaders of Smaju Agro Venture are named Selangor's Best Young Agropreneur, First Runner Up.
The entrepreneur dyad are in the process of expanding their businesses. Incepting a farmhouse café with a miniature petting farm is underway. The menu focuses on all things crayfish, from buttermilk and dried chillies to butter garlic.
We at #MSUmalaysia hope their agrotourism, where people from all over the world are welcomed to visit the farmhouse to observe their breeding style, gets a phenomenal reception.
The Australian redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, was introduced in Malaysia for the aquarium and aquaculture industries in the 1980s and is now an established species in west and east Malaysia.