Instead of soil, Mohd Shafie Isa washes his duck eggs thoroughly before soaking them in a warm brine solution, a method he says produces a more hygienic and better-tasting result. (Give it a try yourself!)
“I prefer this cleaner process,” said the 44-year-old farmer from Kampung Baru Bukit Sedanan here. “By washing the eggs first and soaking them in boiled salt water, they stay clean and don’t have that strong, fishy smell.”
It’s a small tweak to a centuries-old method, but one that is winning over food operators and consumers who are more conscious about cleanliness.
Traditionally, salted eggs are made by coating the eggs in a salty, earthy paste – often a mixture of clay, soil or ash – to create a slow-curing environment that draws out moisture and imparts a rich, oily texture to the yolk.
Shafie recounted that in 2018, he bought 50 ducks after seeing a friend post about duck farming online. But it did not go smoothly at first.
“About 10 of them died because I didn’t have enough experience,” he admitted. But he kept going, learning the ropes along the way and gradually expanding his flock.
The real turning point came during the Movement Control Order in 2020. With many farms shutting down, demand for eggs surged – and Shafie found himself in the right place at the right time.
“I managed to supply duck eggs to supermarkets in Kuala Lumpur,” he said. “That’s when I realised the potential of this business.”
Today, his one-acre farm houses about 3,000 ducks, which produce up to 2,800 eggs a day. Some are sold fresh, while others are turned into salted eggs and salted egg yolks.
These are a favourite among bakeries, restaurants and market traders; the yolks, in particular, are in high demand for pastries and sauces.
Even his setup reflects his focus on cleanliness: unlike many duck farms, Shafie avoids large ponds, which can lead to odour and hygiene issues.
Instead, he uses smaller water areas that are easier to maintain, along with effective micro-organism sprays to keep conditions clean and manageable.
In the future, Shafi said he hopes to further expand his farm so his products can reach a bigger market, noting that support from agencies like the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) has helped him grow.