'Work is tiring but also satisfying'

THANKS to an inheritance, Faridah Dullah is now earning a good living, selling vegetables she raises on a 14-acre land her parents left her.

Faridah, who is in her mid-50s, said she started planting just a few years ago with the help of her husband.

Now, she said, they are reaping the fruits of their labour.

"My husband is a retired personnel from BSP (Brunei Shell Petroleum) and we are now doing our business full time," she said. She said they are always busy because they run three stalls where they sell their vegetables.

They have one at Pasar Seria, which they open every Friday and Saturday and one at Kampung Baru and in Belait.

At Pasar Seria, she said, she pays a rental of $2 per day for her stall.

"The mechanism of customers coming in here are very good and it encourages me to continue selling my vegetables here," she said.

She said she has been in the business for the past 10 years.

"The work is tiring but it is also satisfying," said Faridah.

"From morning till sunset we work," she added.

At the same time, she said, she could safely say that almost all of the vegetables that she brought all the way from the farm would be sold and only some would be left on the table.

Faridah said she would also buy some vegetables from other suppliers according to the demand from buyers.

Faridah though doesn't just depend on her Pasar sales. She also regularly supplies vegetables to some restaurants around town.

At present, Faridah said she has five workers taking care of her vegetable farm.

"Sometimes they would also help me in manning the stalls," she said.

In terms of monthly overhead, she counts the workers' wages and fertiliser among her top expenses.

"Our monthly expenses could reach more than $2,000 and our sales could reach up to $5,000," she said.

"These are from all our hard work and sweat. I am happy that our hard work has paid off. We didn't rely on anyone, it's just us," she said. The Brunei Times