By Patrick Sennyah

The Japanese encephalitis and Nipah virus which devastated Low Chong Ming's pig farm a decade ago proved to be a blessing in disguise.

"I decided it was best for me to go into some other business.

"I invested all I had -- RM165,000($67,551) -- and opened 16 breeding ponds at some idle land in Kampung Sendayan after learning about the tiger prawn trade in Perak.

"I now have 35 ponds over a 20ha plot which is capable of producing 11 to 18 tonnes of tiger prawns worth between RM473,000 to RM774,000 a year," said Low, who runs the business with his wife, Yong Sai Heng.

Low said more than 1,000 of his pigs were killed when his farm in Bukit Pelandok was hit by the deadly Japanese encephalitis and Nipah virus.

Low's current farm is among those under the Ministry of Agriculture Incorporated (MoA Inc) and also recognised by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia for using good aquaculture practice.

His farm is also regularly visited by local university students and is a model for commercialised tiger prawn breeding in the country.

The father of five said most of the prawns were for local consumption, with some exported to Singapore at RM43 per kilogramme.

"I have 11 workers and plan to make my farm a location for agro-tourism and also increase the number of ponds.

"This business, unlike what many think, is very lucrative and after years of hard work, I can now reap the fruits of my labour."