By Olivia Miwil - February 16, 2022 @ 11:14am
RANAU: Hanteh Ginsos is hoping the new coffee bean yield in a few months will spare his 66-year-old father from his current job as a mountain guide.
The 36-year-old founder of Mount Kinabalu Coffee recently shared his father's ordeal of reaching the Panalaban, which is the resting point before the peak, about 7pm.
"Usually, people will arrive at the Panalaban by 3pm if they start climbing from the starting point at Timpohon Gate about 8am.
"But when he guides tourists with low stamina, he has to endure longer hours of working under the sun and rain.
"Although my father has been doing the job since he was 16, with neck and feet aches these days, it is time for him to quit as a guide," said the ninth of 14 siblings.
In a month, his father, Ginsos Magiau takes on about five trips which is RM240 each, which he uses to support some of his children and grandchildren.
His father has also since been growing vegetables and rice, as well as tapping rubber for side income.
Being the only family in Kampung Kiau Nuluh here that still grows coffee trees, Hanteh has proven that the commodity has higher value than most greens.
The family has since planted about 3,000 new trees on an 8ha plot located about 1,400 metres above sea level.
"We are expecting an income of about RM30,000 from selling the commodity after harvesting the beans in October.
"Growing coffee is only labourious during the harvest as it requires plucking all the beans, other times, coffee trees require minimal effort. After the harvest, the green beans can be stored long and sold all year round.
"That is why we are hoping that our father will be able to retire and focus on the coffee production with us for good."
After Hanteh established the Mount Kinabalu Coffee in 2020, he also inspired about 30 families to plant coffee trees with the hope that the commodity would give them a better income and eradicate poverty.
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