Serdang: Former senior fire officer, Mat Ariffa Che Mat Reduan, 46, and his former police sergeant wife, Noor Azlina Bahari, 48, have traded their uniforms for farm attire, dedicating their time to rearing free-range chickens.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mat Ariffa opted for early retirement from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department in 2023 after a service spanning over two decades, while his wife concluded her career in the police force in 2024 to fully commit to the farm. Their journey into poultry farming began modestly with approximately 50 chickens near their home, primarily to occupy their free time.

The Free-Range Chicken Rearing Centre in Seri Bandi, developed by the Central Terengganu Development Authority (KETENGAH), serves as the base of their expanded operations. The facility is well-equipped, featuring chicken coops, electricity, water supply, an office, a surau, and staff housing.

The couple's venture has significantly grown, now managing 10,000 hybrid free-range chickens per production cycle of 60 days, with the assistance of five employees. They also engage in contract farming with 10 farmers from low-income families and senior citizens across eight districts, achieving a total production of 10,000 chickens per cycle.

Their fresh processed chickens are sold at RM10 per kilogram to wholesalers, a pricing strategy designed to remain competitive against larger producers. Mat Ariffa and Noor Azlina start their day at 4 am to handle slaughtering and processing before delivering the chickens to market.

With six children aged between six and 23, the couple plans to expand their production by adding 500 hybrid chickens this year. They have diversified their offerings to include frozen chicken products like three-flavour marinated chicken and chicken satay, priced at RM25 per pack, to mitigate losses during market oversupply.

Their fresh and frozen chicken products have gained a substantial reach, being marketed almost nationwide.