In Kampung Batu Hitam, Kelantan, the 61-year-old has built a business turning discarded husks into planting materials for farmers and gardening enthusiasts across the country.

He told Bernama he began experimenting with coconut husks over a decade ago, initially to contribute to his wife’s gardening hobby. But he soon realised their untapped potential in modern agriculture.

“At first, I only produced it for use at home,” said Wan Zamri, who previously worked at the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board. “But friends became interested, too, and that’s when I realised there was real business potential.”

Today, he produces two main products – coconut coir dust or cocopeat, commonly used in fertigation farming; and chopped coconut husk for ornamental plants and landscaping.

According to him, demand for these products remains strong because they help retain soil moisture, absorb water efficiently, and can serve as a natural, organic growing medium.

He believes the industry in Kelantan has room to grow.

“Previously, many people would source coconut-husk products from Thailand,” Wan Zamri said. “But there are still not many entrepreneurs here seriously involved in this business, even though demand is high.”

His raw materials come from local coconut farmers, and he now processes around two tonnes of coconut-husk products each month.

The products are sold by volume rather than weight due to varying moisture levels, with 70 litres of cocopeat priced at RM12, and 105 litres of shredded husk sold for RM25.

Beyond business, Wan Zamri sees the work as part of a larger shift towards more sustainable agricultural practices – one where waste materials are repurposed instead of discarded.

And in his hands, something once overlooked is finding new life in gardens, farms and flower pots around the country.