TANJUNG SEPAT - Kamaruzaman Denan is beaming with pride as the demand for and daily sales of his locally made coffee, Kopi Kampung Kundang or Kopi 3K, are steadily rising.
The 44-year-old native of Kampung Kundang here said that the Selangor government played a role in his success by selecting him as a participant in the ‘Kita Ke Kampung #produkkampung4u’ programme last February.
According to him, the positive response Kopi 3K has been receiving, especially from customers outside of the Kuala Langat and Sepang districts, was a result of the guidance, particularly in terms of marketing strategy and promotion, conducted by the state government through the programme.
Kamaruzaman said that after joining the programme, he was able to increase his monthly gross sales from roughly RM20,000 to an average of RM30,000.
"Previously, I only sold this coffee powder at morning markets and sundry shops in areas around my village, but now orders are coming from Batu Caves, Gombak, thanks to the promotion carried out by the state government,” he told Bernama when met at his shop in Kampung Kundang.
However, Kamaruzaman said he has to limit the number of orders because he still packs his coffee bags manually.
Therefore, Kamaruzaman said he was now raising funds to purchase a packaging machine so that he could obtain the Food Safety is the Responsibility of the Industry (MeSTI) certification and sell his product to a larger market.
Meanwhile, State Rural Development, Village Traditions, Malay Customs, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Borhan Aman Shah said Kamaruzaman was one of the rural entrepreneurs who has seen an increase in sales as a result of the programme, which has been implemented since 2021.
According to him, the state government allocates a total of RM700,000 each year to guide and promote the products of 300 selected rural entrepreneurs domestically and internationally.
"This programme is implemeted to assist entrepreneurs in promoting their products, as well as guide them to improve the quality of the goods produced, particularly in terms of packaging,” he said.
Borhan said he received a lot of positive feedback from those who took part in the programme, particularly in regard to an increase in sales. - BERNAMA