Rural youth can garner potential from bird’s nest and stingless bee honey industries

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KUCHING: The economic potential for bird’s nests and stingless bee honey industries in Sarawak could give rural youth entrepreneurs an alternative money-generating prospect.

Since 2014, Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Development Unit (UPUB) had organised basic courses for the farming of stingless bee honey and providing funding in the building of colony houses to help Bumiputera entrepreneurs interested in honey bee production.

Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said that in 2014 a total of 100 participants from Lundu and Padawan districts received the funding.

“In 2015, the programmes will be extended to Miri, Mukah and Kabong with targeted participants of 30 for each area,” he said at today’s State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting. UPUB is also planning to provide equipment for honey production this year.

To encourage the youth in the rural areas into the bird’s nest industry, the Department of Agriculture offers consultation services on farm designs and practices of bird’s nest production.

“For those who already have bird’s nest farms, the department will help in registering the premises and consultation services for MyGAP (Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices)certification,” Jabu said.