GreenChange Farming, Sustainable Hydroponics in Sabah
Sustainable Hydroponics in Sabah | Nabalunews |
KOTA KINABALU: Farming and Football may be fields apart but to Randolph Lojiu perseverance fuels both farm and field. “Farming is difficult but unites communities around the dinner table,” he says. “Football shares that spark, passionate, uniting through creativity and efficiency.”
“At GreenChange Farming, creative and efficient methods bring people together for a healthy lifestyle. That’s our drive,” he stressed.
They are showcasing their products and services during an exhibition of football memorabilia which will be held in Kota Kinabalu in June in conjunction with the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Speaking on his farm, Rudolph said he scraped together funds from friends, family, and extended kin to rent an abandoned hydroponic system on a modest 0.5-acre plot near Penampang. “Only 0.25 acres is fully developed right now,” he says, “but I’m using a DFT (Deep Flow Technique) hydroponic setup that keeps things flowing efficiently.”
What started as a humble venture has grown into GreenChange Farming, a beacon of sustainable agriculture emphasizing water savings and chemical-free produce.
Rudolph focuses on high-demand greens suited to hydroponics. “Primarily, I’m growing Cherry Tomatoes, Japanese Cucumber, and Green Coral Lettuce,” he explains.
Past successes include Pak Choy and herbs like Thai Basil, Lemon Basil, Genovese Basil, and Mint. His current peak yield stands at 500kg, with ambitions to hit 1 tonne once the full acreage is operational. “Compared to soil farming, hydroponics uses 90% less water with timed delivery, building resilience against extreme weather like torrential rains or droughts that wipe out traditional crops,” Lojiu notes.
This approach ensures reliable food security in Sabah’s unpredictable climate.
Pests pose the biggest hurdle for Lojiu, who commits to a non-chemical pesticide philosophy.
“Organic options like neem oil are short-lived and expensive, driving up costs that I absorb,” he admits. Customers value the farm-to-plate freshness without poisons, but it’s a tough balance. Sourcing equipment is another pain point, “Sabah’s market is underdeveloped, so most items ship from the Peninsular. Critical supplies like phosphoric acid for pH adjustment often get held by customs, they’re doing their duty, but it’s a conundrum since it’s not sold locally.”
Smart design helps, DFT prevents root dry-out during power failures, a forward-thinking safeguard.
He began with doorstep deliveries to friends and family in Penampang, Putatan, and Kota Kinabalu. Recently, he’s expanded to small grocers.
“Soil-based farming seems cheaper, but it wastes water and causes fertiliser runoff,” he counters. “Hydroponics saves 90% water and contains nutrients fully.” Sustainability-aware buyers are catching on, drawn to the eco-edge.
GreenChange offers Hydroponic vegetables grown without chemical pesticides, saving 90% water versus traditional methods. Recently certified myGAP by the Agriculture Department for Cherry Tomatoes, fresh, sustainable, and community-focused.
Original Article: https://www.nabalunews.com/post/greenchange-farming-sustainable-hydroponics-in-sabah
