Man trades tech job for kelulut farming
Kelulut farming a lucrative venture for former technician
KUALA BERANG - Former computer technician, Mohd Imran Rosli, 40 who quits his job to take care of his mother in Kampung Pauh, Hulu Terengganu has successfully made kelulut or stingless bee farming into a rewarding venture.
He jumped into kelulut breeding by using 100 per cent smart hives which are more environmentally friendly and capable of producing better quality honey.
Sharing his entrepreneurial story, Mohd Imran said he started getting involved in kelulut farming in 2016 after returning to his village to take care of his mother who was often sick.
At first, he only bought kelulut honey for his mother's use, but the relatively high price of the product made Mohd Imran think of raising his own to save expenses.
"I started with two nests in tree logs placed in the yard. The original purpose was only for the use of my mother who was always sick.
"From there came the idea to raise the bees commercially because I didn't have a permanent job either. From two nests I now have more than 100 nests in four locations in Hulu Terengganu and Marang," he said when met in Kampung Pauh, Hulu Terengganu, here recently.
Mohd Imran said he was drawn to fully use 'smart hive' after attending various workshops and related courses conducted by government agencies and universities.
His efforts also received support from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Organisation Authority (LPP) which provided smart hive assistance under the Young Agropreneur and Mentor-Mentee programme.
"The use of smart hive is able to prevent the widespread felling of trees to be used as logs.
"In addition, the quality of honey produced is also much better because it is cleaner and free from pests," he said.
Mohd Imran said every month he was able to produce as much as 50 kilogrammes of kelulut honey which he marketed himself at night markets and farmers' markets using the Harmony Madu Kelulut brand.
"The specialty of Harmony Madu Kelulut is that its nutrients are more original and preserved because it does not go through a drying process to remove the water content.
"The drying process is carried out to enable kelulut honey to have a longer shelf life," he said. - BERNAMA
