Page 62 - From Zero To Hero

62 | fromzerotohero
therefore, it was thought that cocoa needs shade
to grow.
Many have attempted, in isolated research and
trial attempts, to find alternatives to this and find
a way to grow cocoa devoid of shade, but all have
reached dead ends. Majulah Koko’s Executive
Chairman,DatukHongNgitMing throughhisown
uniqueexperimentsandresearchmadearemarkable
breakthrough,andfoundasolutiontogrowingcocoa
trees robustly without shade, in open fields
The planting method was hence named,
zero-shade cocoa. Although the concept was first
proposed in 1929 by Freeman, and subsequent
trialswere done by various researchers over years,
there was no such attempt in Malaysia till Hong
decided to do so.
This uniquemethod, successfully replicatedby a
Malaysian, bringswith it great economic benefits.
Cocoayieldsunder thezero-shadeplantingmethod
can be tripled, and hence this lowers the cost of
production immensely. Such an increase in yield
allows the company to sustain its cocoa business
during abnormal climatic conditions and eroded
commodity pricing.
Besides that, the elimination of the need for
shade planting reduces the costs of planting, and
competition formoisture during drought seasons.
Another clear benefit is the precocity; as yield
happens faster, the capital outlay is lower, and thus
therewill be earlier andhigher payback in the cycle.
Hong has revolutionised cocoa planting by
pioneering this new methodology. The company
also has a book titled “Development History of
Zero-Shade Cocoa and ItsTheories – LetThere Be
Light”, that describes the fascinating process.
Selective cocoa breeding, optimumcocoa grow-
ing conditions, a five day fermentation process, a
lowtemperatureandslowdryingtechniquecoupled
with a premium roasting regime has created
Majulah Koko’s unique cocoa flavor. The intrinsic
flavour and taste of Majulah Koko make its cocoa
powder the premium ingredient for Nestle’s Milo
and Novartis’s Ovaltine.
Their cocoa butter brand, also a premium
product with a 34.7ºC melting point, is far more
superior to African counterpart that produces the
same for chocolates at 32ºC.
Finding Strength In MATRADE
Support
Majulah Koko actively participates in MAT-
RADE trade fairs and trade missions overseas
on a regular basis. The company is grateful
for the Market Development Grant (MDG)
provided by MATRADE – that has consider-
ably lessened their burden in expanding their
network overseas.
MajulahKoko seesMATRADEas a government
agency which is necessary and vital to the growth
of Malaysian home-grown companies that are
seeking to expand and penetrate into relevant
export markets today.
Through their participation in various MAT-
RADE exhibitions, Majulah Koko has managed to
close significant deals and working partnerships
with buyers fromwell-known backgrounds in the
cocoa industry.
Building A Cocoa Legacy –
Datuk Hong Ngit Ming
Hong, the Executive Chairman of Majulah Koko
Tawau Sdn Bhd explains how the long term
vision of the company was conceived during the
Japanese occupation by their founder, Datuk
Seri Panglima Hong Teck Guan. Majulah Koko’s
holding company, TeckGuan, is synonymouswith
fair play, which is always possible if one puts their
mind to it.
“During theJapaneseoccupation, throughclose
associationwith the army, our foundermanaged to
changeall Japanese currency intoBorneocurrency.
After thewar, Japanesecurrencybecameworthless,
and so with ten bundles of Borneo currency in a
small gunny sack,DatukSerimanagedtomaximise
this through well planned and quick witted deci-
sions, which made more than RM200,000 in the
early days, post-war,” he says.
Thesumof thismoney formedthe foundationof
his future development, and in1946, the company
was able to sustain itself,” he explains further.
Majulah Koko today has built a reputable and
strong name for itself, with Hong leading a team
of committed and talented staff. Continuing
the legacy from Teck Guan, Hong emphasises
the need for ensuring health and environment
protection as a necessary hallmark of today’s
business principles.
In his words, keeping customers happy and
satisfied through honest and genuine deals and
product deliveries will ensure thatMajulah Koko
remains steady and stable in its position as one
of Asia’s and the world’s most preferred cocoa
producers.
Left ... Majulah Koko
Tawau’s Deputy
Executive Chairman,
Hong KimFah