SETIU - A kelulut (stingless bee) honey bee farming pilot project initiated by University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) in 2019 with 15 kelulut honey bee colonies has now increased to 200 colonies within two years.
The project initially involved only one family, but now 20 families are involved in the project.
The initiative by UMT to share knowledge and expertise involved in honey bee farming with villagers in Kampung Pengkalan Gelap here was aimed at improving their socio-economic status and providing a source of income for villagers.
UMT vice-chancellor Professor Dr Mazlan Abd Ghaffar said the success of the pilot project had also attracted the attention of Government Linked Companies (GLC), especially Pharmaniaga Bhd, as the organization has come forward to provide funding under their Corporate Social Responsibility initiative to expand kelulut honey farming.
"The strategic partnership between UMT and Pharmaniaga has helped increase the production of kelulut honey and honey-based products. The increase in productivity and products has certainly increased the income of villagers involved in honey bee farming.
"UMT through an association with a group of researchers involved in studies related to honey bees and kelulut honey bees has managed to seek funding under the Social Innovation project from Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia, an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI).
"The objective is to attract more villagers to the programme and UMT remains optimistic that the village will soon become a main hub for the production of kelulut honey in Terengganu,” said Dr Mazlan.
Dr Mazlan was speaking to Bernama after accompanying Tengku Putera Utama Raja who is also UMT's Environmental Conservation Ambassador, to visit the kelulut honey farming community in Kampung Pengkalan Gelap, here yesterday.
UMT had earlier carried out a similar kelulut honey farming programme for single mothers at Kampung Jabi in Besut, tahfiz students and in Kuala Nerus and farmers in Bukit Kor, Marang.
Meanwhile, one of the villagers involved in the pilot project, Tengku Azam Tengku Mat, 67, said he earned an additional income of about RM1,000 a month from kelulut honey bee farming.
"The programme is very beneficial. If there are any problems, we will seek the assistance of the UMT researchers and they will always offer us their assistance,” he said. - BERNAMA
The project initially involved only one family, but now 20 families are involved in the project.
The initiative by UMT to share knowledge and expertise involved in honey bee farming with villagers in Kampung Pengkalan Gelap here was aimed at improving their socio-economic status and providing a source of income for villagers.
UMT vice-chancellor Professor Dr Mazlan Abd Ghaffar said the success of the pilot project had also attracted the attention of Government Linked Companies (GLC), especially Pharmaniaga Bhd, as the organization has come forward to provide funding under their Corporate Social Responsibility initiative to expand kelulut honey farming.
"The strategic partnership between UMT and Pharmaniaga has helped increase the production of kelulut honey and honey-based products. The increase in productivity and products has certainly increased the income of villagers involved in honey bee farming.
"UMT through an association with a group of researchers involved in studies related to honey bees and kelulut honey bees has managed to seek funding under the Social Innovation project from Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia, an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI).
"The objective is to attract more villagers to the programme and UMT remains optimistic that the village will soon become a main hub for the production of kelulut honey in Terengganu,” said Dr Mazlan.
Dr Mazlan was speaking to Bernama after accompanying Tengku Putera Utama Raja who is also UMT's Environmental Conservation Ambassador, to visit the kelulut honey farming community in Kampung Pengkalan Gelap, here yesterday.
UMT had earlier carried out a similar kelulut honey farming programme for single mothers at Kampung Jabi in Besut, tahfiz students and in Kuala Nerus and farmers in Bukit Kor, Marang.
Meanwhile, one of the villagers involved in the pilot project, Tengku Azam Tengku Mat, 67, said he earned an additional income of about RM1,000 a month from kelulut honey bee farming.
"The programme is very beneficial. If there are any problems, we will seek the assistance of the UMT researchers and they will always offer us their assistance,” he said. - BERNAMA